9 counties have unused funds for sanctions cases

At least $1.4 million given by the state to county prosecutors for enforcing Arizona’s employer sanctions law is sitting idle.

The state allocated nearly $5 million for enforcement of the law, which prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

Prosecutors from nine of the state’s 15 counties say money has accumulated and remains unspent because there have been so few complaints about employers violating the law.

But in Maricopa County, where County Attorney Andrew Thomas has teamed with Sheriff Joe Arpaio to crack down on illegal immigration, nearly all of the $2.86 million has been spent.