Ariz. gov. to act on immigration enforcement bill
By PAUL DAVENPORT and JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press
Apr 23, 2010 4:12 AM CDT
People walk along the international border in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico as seen from Nogales, Ariz. Thursday, April 22, 2010. Illegal immigration and border security are heating up as issues after the slaying of a border-area rancher and imminent passage of state legislation to crack down on illegal immigration.   (Associated Press)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is nearing a deadline to act on the nation's toughest state legislation against illegal immigration.

A Saturday deadline was set when the legislation landed on her desk Monday. She can sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without her signature.

The sweeping measure gives police new duties to question people about their immigration status in some circumstances, targets hiring of illegal immigrants and creates a state crime for them to not have papers to be in the country illegally.

Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation's busiest border crossing point.

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