PHOENIX (AP) -- Gov. Janet Napolitano has signed into law a bill making it a crime in Arizona to help provide locations for use as drop houses for smugglers to temporarily house illegal immigrants.

The bill makes it a mid-tier felony for people to lease or sell homes that the owner or agent knows will be used as drop houses. Those are usually vacant properties where smugglers stash immigrants while awaiting payment.

Under the bill signed Wednesday by Napolitano, owners or rental agents have a defense if they make reports to law enforcement once they find out a home is being used as a drop house.

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