Posted on 05/05/2007 5:29:00 AM PDT by radar101
Gov. Janet Napolitano on Friday signed a bill intended to help prosecutors use a 2005 state law targeting immigrant smugglers.
The bill (HB2016) extends the time that state authorities can detain an illegal immigrant so they can testify against people accused of being their smugglers.
Some prosecutors have said they couldn't file charges in smuggling cases because witnesses were sent back across the border by federal authorities before preparations were complete.
The bill would extend the amount of time authorities could hold illegal immigrants from three days to seven days. The added time would give prosecutors more time to record their testimony and corroborate allegations against smugglers.
Bill sponsor Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, was one of the sponsors of the 2005 law, which makes it a state crime to smuggle humans.
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