The toughest Sheriff in America Joe Arpaio with paddy wagon with 800 number to report illegal aliens downtonw Phoenix Arizona 2008 by photographer A. T. Willett
The prime mover in the most active state legislature for anti-immigrant laws is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa, AZ.  Former police officer, Minuteman, currently considering a run for Congress.  His son, also a police officer, was killed by an illegal immigrant.  Some think he may be working-out his grief on the state of Arizona. 
The prime mover in the most active state legislature for anti-immigrant laws is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa, AZ.  Former police officer, Minuteman, currently considering a run for Congress.  His son, also a police officer, was killed by an illegal immigrant.  Some think he may be working-out his grief on the state of Arizona. 

The prime mover in the most active state legislature for anti-immigrant laws is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa, AZ.  Former police officer, Minuteman, currently considering a run for Congress.  His son, also a police officer, was killed by an illegal immigrant.  Some think he may be working-out his grief on the state of Arizona. 

The prime mover in the most active state legislature for anti-immigrant laws is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa, AZ.  Former police officer, Minuteman, currently considering a run for Congress.  His son, also a police officer, was killed by an illegal immigrant.  Some think he may be working-out his grief on the state of Arizona. 
Arizona State Representative Russel Pearce in his Office with Painting of Jonh Wayne, Pearc is one of Arizona toughest lawmakers on Anti Imigration issues, photograph by A. T. Willett 2008
  The prime mover in the most active state legislature for anti immigrant laws is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa AZ Former police officer Minuteman currently considering a run for Congress. He is most well know for his authoring state Bill SB1070 the controversial new law in Arizona taking effect in July of 2010. The passing of this new law has created a lot of controversy and groups around the country are calling it a racist law which will promote racial profiling, as well as create a wedge between the local police force and the Hispanic community which it serves. On the other hand other states and lawmakers of major cities have contacted Pearce to find out how they can enact similar legislation in their states. Pearce has first hand motivation for creating the new law, his son also a police officer was shot by an illegal immigrant. Whichever side of this debate you stand on it has certainly cost the state millions of lost revenue from corporations and groups and cities boycotting business with Arizona.