Back in 2004 I wrote Prop 200, The Protect Arizona Now Act on the ballot, which restricted public benefits to illegal aliens and protected against voting fraud. Despite being outspent 3-1, and with virtually every politician in the state opposing the measure, it passed overwhelmingly.

In 2006, I placed on the ballot Proposition 100, a constitutional amendment denying bail to any illegal alien charged with a serious felony. It passed by 78 percent. I also pressed for Proposition 103, which made English the Official Language of Arizona. It passed by 73 percent.

In 2007, I introduced the Legal Arizona Workers Act, requiring all state employers to use E-Verify, to ensure they don’t hire illegal aliens. If any “knowingly” hire illegal immigrants, they are to lose their license to do business in Arizona. After building enormous grass-roots support, the bill passed and then-Gov. Janet Napolitano signed it.

This May, the Supreme Court upheld the rights of states and localities to mandate E-Verify for employers. More than a dozen states have now passed E-Verify laws. We can expect even more to follow suit next year.

Since SB1070 passed, according to the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, they have experienced a 30-year low in crime — without one civil rights, racial profiling or biased policing complaint. More important, polls still show that Arizona voters support the law by a 2-1 margin.

This issue has now become bigger than me — and bigger than Arizona.

We have inspired other states to take action. More than 34 states are now proposing legislation modeled on SB1070. Alabama, South Carolina, Utah and Georgia have already passed bills.

Before I introduced SB 1070, Arizona political luminaries like Sen. John McCain and Rep. Jeff Flake were leading sponsors of amnesty for illegal aliens. But since we passed it, most of our GOP congressman and senators at least give lip service to supporting patriotic immigration enforcement.

I have not decided whether or not I will run again for the State Senate — or another office. I promise you though, that I will not retreat from this fight. Story.