The Obama administration’s challenge to the Arizona immigration statute SB 1070 is not about its popularity, or whether the statute is wise or unwise policy. Legislatures are permitted to enact laws thought unpopular or unwise by others. And as Chief Justice Roberts observed, and the administration’s lawyer agreed, the challenge is also not in any way about civil rights or racial profiling.

State legislators moved on two fronts Tuesday to bar politicians and the agency chiefs they appoint from blocking law enforcement officers from enforcing immigration laws.

A former Phoenix City Council candidate took the first steps Monday to have the fate of the new law aimed at illegal immigrants decided by Arizona voters.

Three out of four Mesa voters support vigorous enforcement of immigration laws by Mesa police, an exclusive Tribune poll reveals.But nearly as many people say that Mesa needs to improve relations between Hispanic and non-Hispanic people in the city.

Two federal court hearings in Phoenix ended Thursday without a ruling on whether the state's new immigration law should take effect amid a flurry of legal challenges against the crackdown.

The state and its taxpayers will suffer if there is any delay in enforcing Arizona's new immigration law, an attorney for Gov. Jan Brewer told a federal judge Thursday.

Beginning Thursday, cities won’t be able to regulate guns or knives.

WASHINGTON -- Justices of the nation's high court indicated Wednesday they may allow Arizona to implement the most controversial part of its 2010 immigration law.

A federal judge has set the stage for a new challenge to Arizona’s immigration law if the U.S. Supreme Court rejects the one it has before it now.

Two out-of-state residents are leading the charge to convince others from across the country to come to Arizona this holiday weekend — and specifically to spend some money — to show they support the tough new law aimed at illegal immigration.

A federal judge on Wednesday virtually cleared the way for Arizona to require police to question suspected illegal immigrants.

Members of the state’s largest business group want new restrictions on voter initiatives. The proposal, part of the 2006 legislative agenda of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, would require that statutory and constitutional changes proposed by individuals and groups be reviewed before they could start gathering signatures.

A newly approved voter initiative requires state employees to check the immigration status only of those applying for welfare programs — and not even all of them — Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard concluded Friday.

The United States needs to bolster, rather than limit, immigration to meet the country’s increasing work force demands, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told a group of business leaders in Phoenix on Wednesday.

Arrest illegal immigrants. Send the National Guard to monitor the border. Build a wall. Eliminate jobs.

Arrest illegal immigrants. Send the National Guard to monitor the border. Build a wall. Eliminate jobs.

Mesa lawmaker Russell Pearce’s crusade to fix Arizona’s immigration problems this year came to a slow and bitter end late Wednesday.

Mesa lawmaker Russell Pearce’s crusade to fix Arizona’s immigration problems this year came to a slow and bitter end late Wednesday.

Facts and figures are flying as debate heats up over a proposed new state law to discourage illegal immigration.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio launched a crime and immigration sweep in northwestern metro Phoenix on Friday, a half-day after officials in Washington limited his powers to make federal immigration arrests.

A bill approved by the state Legislature would require city and county police agencies to have their officers tackle federal immigration violations.

A Friday protest that labeled Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman as “racist” has led to a planned meeting between Berman and immigration advocates.

Two commissioned studies suggest contrasting opinions on either side of the employer sanctions argument. One report concludes that the costs of illegal immigration in Arizona are more than offset by the state tax revenue generated by the presence of immigrants here.

Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a much-protested bill that will crack down on illegal immigration -- legislation that President Barack Obama said will violate the civil rights of people. Brewer called the law an important step forward in protecting Arizona and its citizens.