The Associated Press Jan. 21, 2003

PHOENIX - Some Arizona lawmakers are pressing for tougher laws dealing with undocumented immigrants.

Legislators are proposing everything from requiring police officers to turn them over to immigration officials to blocking colleges and universities from accepting them. Another proposal would reject identification cards issued by Mexican consulates as valid identification.

"There is anti-immigrant mentality prevailing at the state Legislature," said Salvador Reza, executive director of Tonatierra, a nonprofit advocacy group for immigrants.

Not so, say those proposing legislation affecting immigrants. It's about protecting the state's scarce economic resources and the nation's security.

"Something has to be done," said Rep. Randy Graf, R-Green Valley, an architect of a bill that would bar state agencies and local governments from accepting consular ID cards.

The cards are being accepted over objections from those who fear they'll lead to amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Supporters counter that the cards have no bearing on a person's legal status.

If Graf's legislation is successful, it would mean that Mexican immigrants would not be able to use the cards as a primary form of identification when doing business with cities such as Phoenix and Tucson, which now accept them as valid.

The Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and a few banks also accept the Mexican government document as personal identification.

While much of the attention is on ID cards, others are concerned about an attempt to block immigrants from entering college.