Stewart Baker writes on The Volokh Conspiracy, “I finally had a chance to read Arizona’s new law on illegal immigration. It’s rather different from the press portrayal. . . . I want to start with the astonishingly vituperative attack by Cardinal Roger Mahony on what he calls “Arizona’s Dreadful Anti-Immigrant Law.” Arizona’s new anti-illegal immigration law makes it illegal to:
“transport .. . conceal, harbor or shield an alien from detection in any place in this state, including any building or any means of transportation, if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the alien has come to, has entered or remains in the United States in violation of law.”
Note similar language in federal law (8 USC Section 1324) that says it is a crime for a person who:
“conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation”
Mr. Baker speculates that the Cardinal fears that Catholic priests in Arizona who learn of illegals being concealed may face prosecution for failing to report the concealment.
I too have studied the AZ law and find nothing that would restrict an officer in AZ from abiding by federal law or AZ law or restricting an officer from being punished for not abiding by the AZ or Federal law.