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Immigration in Arizona

  • Legislature passes

    A law passes requiring proof of citizenship to get a driver's license. Law written by Russell Pearce, the director of the state Motor Vehicle Division.
  • Proposed bill

    Representative Tom Smith of Arizona proposes bill to require ID be shown at the voting polls. Bill failed at the Senate.
  • English immersion in schools

    Arizona voters endorse a requirement for English immersion in public schools, banning bilingual education.
  • Sheriff shot by illegal immigrant

    Russell Pearce's son Sean, who was a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Deputy was shot and wounded by an illegal immigrant here in Arizona.
  • Proposition 200

    Arizona voters approve proposition 200, denying public benefits to people not in the country legally.
  • State crime

    Russell Pearce introduces a bill to make it a state crime to be in the country illegally, and to allow police officers to question a person's immigration status.
  • "Nick" Erfle

    Phoenix police officer Nicki James Erfle was shot and killed by a fugitive who was an illegal immigrant.
  • Sheriff Joe

    Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio begins conducting immigration sweeps
  • Jan Brewer

    Jan Brewer ascends to the Governor's Office when Janet Napolitano resigns to join the Obama administration as Homeland Security secretary.
  • Shane Figueroa

    Phoenix Officer Shane Figueroa dies in a collision with a drunk driver who was in the country illegally.
  • SB1070

    Pearce introduces Senate Bill 1070-The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
  • SB1070-Law

    Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signs Senate Bill 1070 into law, the toughest bill on illegal immigration meant to identify, prosecute, and deport illegal immigrants.
  • Backlash

    Three separate lawsuits challenging law's constitutionality are filed in federal court
  • DREAM Act

    Passing of the Development, Relief, and Education For Alien Minors giving conditional residency.
  • Violence Against Women Act

    This re authorization act added immigrants to the protected class list, created a pathway to legalization for undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse.