Welcome to the Maricopa County Attorney’s web page on the Legal Arizona Workers Act.  This law, which went into effect on January 1, 2008, prohibits businesses from knowingly employing illegal immigrants.  The purpose of this website is to give the public information on the law, including how to file a complaint, and also to provide resources to businesses that will assist them in complying with the law.  I invite you to take advantage of the material we have provided here.

I am devoted to enforcing this law fully but fairly.  Enforcement of this law will take time, and I ask for patience.  Under the law, it is not enough to prove that an employer hired an illegal immigrant.  It must also be shown that the employer knew the person was an illegal immigrant.  The illegal immigration problem was not created overnight and will not be solved overnight.  But just as Maricopa County has led the way in the fight against human smuggling, we will rise to the challenge of enforcing this new law.

This office and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will accept all information that is provided to it regarding violations of the law.  This office will not implement barriers that make it hard for the public to report information about violations.  Complaints do not have to be made in person and may be submitted via email or phone, and while it is preferable to have contact information for the person making the complaint, it is not required.

In enforcing the law, I will not tolerate racial profiling or any other violations of the constitutional rights of either employees or employers.  In addition, people who file false and frivolous complaints simply to harass individuals or businesses will be prosecuted. 

As part of my efforts to assist the business community in complying with the law, this office is partnering with leaders in the business community to get the word out regarding compliance. In partnership with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and with participation from officials from the federal government, seminars are offered to the public periodically at no charge, so if you are interested, please check this website for more information on those. While this law will be fully enforced, the goal is compliance, not "gotcha." I believe that the vast majority of businesses want to be law-abiding, and I want to help them in that regard.

Thank you for visiting this web page.  It is part of an ongoing campaign to inform the public and the business community about the Legal Arizona Workers Act.  We hope that you make use of the information and resources that we provide.