PHOENIX, April 23 (UPI) -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, resisting constituents who urged she take out her veto stamp, Friday signed into law the nation's toughest immigration bill.
Brewer had until the end of Saturday to make up her mind whether to sign, veto or let the bill become law without her signature. She chose to get the decision out of the way a day early, WPNX-TV, Phoenix, reported.
On Thursday, thousands of people had protested outside the Arizona Capitol exhorting Brewer to veto the measure. On Wednesday, the national Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative police group condemned the bill as likely trigger racial and ethnic profiling.
Other organizations and religious and political leaders also urged Brewer to veto it.
The law makes not having immigration documents a misdemeanor and lets officers arrest people who cannot immediately prove they are in the United States legally.
It would allows residents to sue government agencies they believe are not enforcing the law.
Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation's busiest border crossing point.
Brewer, who succeeded Janet Napolitano when she resigned to become U.S. homeland security secretary, is running for election to a full term this year.
