By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A coalition of 13 states has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold an Arizona law penalizing employers of illegal immigrants.
The Supreme Court is to hear arguments next month on a 2007 Arizona law that allows business licenses to be suspended or revoked when employers knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
The Missouri attorney general's office is leading the coalition supporting the Arizona law. The group argues in court documents released Thursday that states have long had the authority to license and regulate businesses.
Other states joining the argument are Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Misissippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.