The Arizona state Legislature is moving to make federal immigration issues a matter of state law, a change that could mean jail time for illegal immigrants.

Under a bill approved by a committee Tuesday, being in the country illegally would become a state misdemeanor instead of a federal matter. A second offense would be a felony.

That would mean illegal immigrants found in Arizona could be arrested by local police, accused by local prosecutors and be put behind bars, rather than being turned over to U.S. officials for deportation.