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AZ Legislature
The Arizona Legislature passes a law requiring proof of legal status to get a driver's license. Russell Pearce, director of the state Motor Vehicle Division, wrote the law. -
Passing Laws
Legislature passes a law requiring proof of citizenship to get a driver's license. Russell Pearce, director of the state Motor Vehicle Division, wrote the law. -
Chandler, AZ
Chandler police and federal agents spend five days rounding up suspected illegal immigrants in downtown neighborhoods. They make 340 arrests, taking some legal residents into custody. City officials later pay $500,000 in legal settlements and spend years apologizing. -
Rep. Tom Smith
Rep. Tom Smith, R-Phoenix, proposes a bill to require ID be shown at the polls. It fails in the Senate. Another bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote doesn't get out of committee. -
Invasion
Arizona ranchers ask lawmakers to call on the National Guard to come to the border to suppress an "invasion." Effort goes nowhere, beyond some lawmakers reading a proclamation about border violations. -
English Immersion
Voters endorse a requirement for English immersion in schools, banning bilingual education. It passes 63 percent to 37 percent. -
Proposition 200
Voters approve Proposition 200, which denies public benefits to people not in the country legally. The measure passes 56 percent to 44 percent. -
Minuteman Project
Volunteers from around the county -- part of a civilian-based effort known as the "Minuteman Project" -- descend on Cochise County for a month to "assist" the U.S. Border Patrol in its search for undocumented immigrants. -
Illegal Immigration
Gov. Janet Napolitano declares a state of emergency along Arizona's border with Mexico, a move that allowed her to free up $1.5 million in disaster funds to help border counties combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling. At the same time, Napolitano criticizes the federal government for "moving too slow" on border security, which is rapidly evolving into a controversial election-year issue in Arizona and across the country. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson declares a similar emergency in his -
Immigration Status
Pearce introduces a bill to make it a state crime to be in the country illegally and to allow peace officers to question an individual's immigration status. It also includes measures to restrict employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoes the bill.
More than 100,000 march to the state Capitol to support comprehensive immigration reform on the national level. Similar large rallies are held in cities across the U.S.
Voters endorse a trio of ballot measures related to ill -
Maricopa County
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio begins conducting immigration sweeps. Phoenix Officer Shane Figueroa dies in a collision with a drunken driver in the country illegally. Republicans gain ground in legislative elections. -
Jan Brewer
Republican Jan Brewer ascends to the Governor's Office when Napolitano resigns to join the Obama administration as Homeland Security secretary. -
Senate Bills
January 2010: Pearce introduces Senate Bill 1070.
February: SB 1070 passes Senate 17-13.
March: Southern Arizona rancher Robert Krentz is murdered.
April 13: Amended version of SB 1070 passes House 35-21.
April 19: Senate gives final approval to amended SB 1070 with vote of 17-11. Bill goes to governor.
April 23: Brewer signs SB 1070 into law.
April 29: Three separate lawsuits challenging law's constitutionality are filed in federal court.
April 30: Brewer signs into law SB 2650. -
Immigration Laws
Arizona enacted two laws addressing immigration, SB 1070 and HB 2162. These laws added new state requirements, crimes and penalties related to enforcement of immigration laws and were to become effective on July 29, 2010. -
Warrantless Arrests
Judge Bolton granted the request for injunction in part and enjoined those provisions related to state law officers determining immigration status during any lawful stop; the requirement to carry alien registration documents; the prohibition on applying for work if unauthorized; and permission for warrantless arrests if there is probable cause the offense would make the person is removable from the United States. -
Fines against Illegal Hires
Phoenix Officer Nick Erfle is shot and killed by a fugitive who is an illegal immigrant. Legislature approves a bill that levies fines against employers found to have hired illegal immigrants. The bill gets bipartisan support and is signed by Napolitano.
