PHOENIX -- A group of prominent Republican legislators and public officials gathered outside the state capitol Wednesday to express their opposition to Proposition 202, the "Stop Hiring Illegals" ballot measure that would increase civil penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, but, according to opponents, would negate the current employer sanctions law passed by Arizonans only last year.

State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), who is running for the Arizona Senate this year and has been an outspoken proponent of tougher immigration enforcement, spearheaded the event. He was joined by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a handful of Republican lawmakers, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen and representatives from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Pearce called the law a "piece of garbage," and said Prop. 202 would make it easier for employers to get away with hiring illegal workers.

"I don't apologize for demanding our laws be enforced," said Pearce.

Andrew Thomas, argued that the proposition would constitute a "terrible setback" in employer sanctioning. He said Prop. 202 eliminates key components of existing law that would make it almost impossible to prosecute employers for having an illegal workforce.

"Arguably it would require the federal government to take actions against employers before state and county authorities could," said Thomas, who also spoke out against portions of the measure that would raise the standard of proof when going after employers in violation, such as requiring witnesses to sign statements when submitting a complaint against an employer, and making prosecutors have to prove that employers had actual knowledge of an employee's illegal status.

"If this measure is passed I don't believe we would see any employer sanctions enforcement," Thomas said.

An official spokesman for the Prop. 202 campaign emailed PolitickerAZ.com in response to the press conference, saying, "We remain confident that voters in November will support an illegal immigration solution that is tough, fair and enforceable and will overwhelmingly vote to pass Proposition 202."