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RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION

PHOENIX — When Arizona's employer-sanctions law goes into effect Jan. 1, Maricopa County's top prosecutor will tell investigators to focus on businesses that hire illegal immigrants after the new year.

The law allows County Attorney Andrew Thomas to delve into an employer's past hiring practices. But Thomas said Monday in a news conference that it would be tough to prosecute a violation that happened before the law went into effect.

"I'm not saying it's impossible," Thomas told reporters.

"If we had a particularly egregious case in which we had a clear knowledge or intent to hire illegal immigrants in 2007, in the right case we might bring such an action and see how the courts would respond. But our focus will be on 2008 and onward because of the way the law was written."

The law, passed this year by the Republican-majority Legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, forces business owners to help authorities police illegal immigration. It requires employers to check the immigration status of each of their workers.

Business owners who are caught knowingly employing illegal immigrants would have their licenses suspended for up to 10 days. If they're caught a second time, they would have their licenses revoked.

Business groups have tried to stop the law in federal court, saying the law would poison the state's economic climate and increase the risks of doing business here.

Farrell Quinlan, a spokesman for some of the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit, said business owners are confused about how to protect themselves from an investigation. Quinlan added it's unlikely that Thomas will hold to his promise.

"What's to say these law enforcement agencies will just change their mind?" Quinlan said. "Why should they offer amnesty who broke the law before Jan. 1? I don't believe they will. I don't believe they'll be able to handle the political pressure."

At the news conference, Thomas said he hasn't started investigating anyone. But he declined comment when asked if he's received tips about anyone possibly violating the law.

He did say that homeowners won't likely be targeted by the prosecutor's office if they hire an illegal immigrant to do yard work or other small jobs.