‘Business Death Penalty’ Immigrant Case Unites Obama, Companies

In 2007, Arizona enacted a law containing what then-Governor Janet Napolitano called the “business death penalty,” a provision threatening companies that hired illegal aliens with revocation of their corporate charters.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s challenge to the law is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears arguments today. With states and cities seeking to crack down on illegal border crossing, a ruling upholding the measure would spur enactment of similar laws elsewhere, advocates on both sides say.