Arizona governor signs immigrant drop house bill

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that would make it a felony to use forgery to rent or buy a home to be used as an immigrant-smuggling "drop house."

The bill signed Monday would make the offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Drop houses are homes, apartments or motel rooms where immigrant smugglers hide their customers after they have crossed the border but before they are sent to destinations across the United States.

Police have discovered numerous drop houses in metropolitan Phoenix in recent years. The city is the nation's busiest hub for immigrant smuggling.

The measure takes effect on July 20.