4. Border and Enforcement (Arizona) News:    Arizona immigration law could overwhelm state's court system   The Arizona Republic, out of Phoenix, reports that the impending immigration legislation in Arizona has the potential to overwhelm the state’s court system with criminal and civil cases when enforcement begins. Estimates indicate that enforcement of SB 1070 could triple the number of cases almost immediately, with no additional court staffing or funds.   Additionally, the law’s enactment could lead individual law enforcement officers vulnerable to lawsuits, regardless of how strictly or leniently they apply the new rules. An unusual provision of the law allows residents to sue local government for not enforcing the law strictly enough. But in a catch-22, if police are too aggressive in their enforcement, it is nearly inevitable that they would end up arresting and holding US citizens, which will result in wrongful arrest lawsuits.   http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/06/15/20100615arizona-immigration-law-may-overwhelm-court-system.html * * * * * *   ICE mulls 'softening' immigration detention centers   CNN reports that Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has proposed reforms to the nation’s immigration detention centers that would make the facilities more comfortable for some detainees.   The reforms are trying to improve amenities for the non-criminal immigrants being held at detention centers. These detainees have not been convicted of any crime, but are being held pending removal from the US.   The proposed changes include eliminating lock-downs and lights-out for non-criminals, giving visitors full access for as long as they like during a 12 hour period every day, and sponsoring light-hearted events such as movie nights.    http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/17/detention.center.reforms/ * * * * * *   Homeland Security Department to Use Drones on Mexican Borders   Daily Tech reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it will increase the number of unmanned drones that patrol the US-Mexico border, hunting for drugs and illegally present immigrants. The FAA has granted DHS permission to launch mission from along the border.   The Customs and Border Protection will maintain a drone at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas. The Office of National Drug Control Policy will also be cooperating with DHS and using drones on drug enforcement missions. Additionally, DHS will be working with the Justice Department to implement a cooperative framework to share drone related information with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies.   http://www.dailytech.com/Homeland+Security+Department+to+Use+Drones+on+Mexican+Borders/article18833.htm * * * * * *   Small businesses must now comply with SC's anti-illegal immigration law; audits to increase   The Associated Press reports that a South Carolina immigration law subjecting small business to fines and potential shutdowns for employing illegally present workers took effect on July 1st.  According to Jim Knight, spokesman for the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, every employee on the payroll must be legally documented.  Employers are required to check workers’ legality through a federal database or only hire workers with a valid driver’s license.   Under the new law, the state Office of Immigrant Worker Compliance has doubled its number of investigators and increased its budget from $750,000 to $2 million as 110,000 business fall under the law.   http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/small-businesses-must-now-comply-with-scs-anti-illegal-immigration-law-audits-to-increase-97618334.html * * * * * *

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