ANNOUNCER: It's time to go "One-on-One".

KING: Unless a judge stops it, Arizona's controversial new immigration law goes into effect Thursday. We'll be heading out there starting tomorrow to do the program Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from Arizona. Groups of union members, students, even religious leaders from Los Angeles are making plans for protest rallies against the new law. But the state's governor, Republican Jan Brewer, is used to taking the heat political and otherwise. She joins us now to go "One-on-One".

Governor, my first question to you just as you prepare to implement this law, every time you try to do something new, especially when it's controversial there's some kind of a hiccup or problem, the training. What would you say is the number one issue in implementation?

GOV. JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: Well, I think getting everybody to actually understand what the bill actually does and certainly making absolutely sure that all our law enforcement officers are trained. It's not much different than what they've always did. But there's been such misunderstanding and mistruth in reference to Senate Bill 1070 that we wanted to make it absolutely clear and now we understand that people are taking their classes by video and passing their tests and so we feel very comfortable that everybody has been well trained.

KING: I want to show you some numbers because CNN has a new poll out tonight and in it a majority of Americans -- and I know in your state, a majority of Arizonans support the new law. Fifty-five percent say they favor the law; 40 percent say they oppose it. But it's interesting, despite that majority support, you do have indications that Americans of all stripes worry it will cause some discrimination against Latinos.

Look at these numbers; 49 percent of whites; 69 percent of African-Americans; and 74 percent of Hispanics tell us they believe the new law will increase discrimination against Hispanics. Can you guarantee not only to your state citizens but to the American people who might be concerned about that aspect of the law that that will not happen? And what will you do to stop it, if you see evidence of it?

BREWER: Well, John, racial discrimination is illegal. It's illegal in the United States. It's illegal in Arizona. It has been and it will continue to be. You know I believe that people respond to those kinds of polls because they have been led to believe that that's what's going to happen. I hope that it doesn't happen.

I'm sure that there will be claims of racial discrimination, unfortunately. But, you know, I really believe that our law enforcement officers are so well trained, they understand what America's all about. And that it's illegal. And that it's not going to happen. We don't want it to happen.

That was one of my big concerns. But I'm hopeful that on Thursday, that -- and as it moves forward, that we won't see any of that. And certainly, those people will be punished. And the people that are feeling that they're being racially discriminated against can you know pursue a legal relief through the courts.

KING: Every state, every city, every local government is having budget crunch in this tough economy. And while several of your police, major police organizations, support this law, several have also spoken out and raised concerns about it. I want you to react to some of them.

This is Chief Roberto Villasenor of the Tucson Police Department. He said "shifting the burden of immigration enforcement and responsibility from federal to local authorities cannot be justified nor sustained. We cannot bear the burden of the federal government's financial and legal responsibilities." That's one.

The Santa Cruz County, Arizona, sheriff, Tony Estrada, says "this new law requires me to expend substantial and already scarce resources on immigration matters at the expense of combating serious crime." You do have serious law enforcement professionals saying you're taking resources away from fighting the crime they think is the number one priority in their community and redirecting it. How would you answer that?

BREWER: The bottom line is that the Senate Bill-1070 absolutely mirrors federal law. And we are being invaded by illegal immigration in the state of Arizona. And this is another tool. And we are just helping the feds do their job because they won't do it. The bottom line is that the people of Arizona are frustrated. We shouldn't have to do it. The federal government should be doing it, and if they won't, well, the legislature and the people of Arizona overwhelmingly believe that we need to enforce it and help them do their job. And we're a nation of laws. And we hope that those laws will be enforced.

KING: As you know, the federal government, the Obama administration, went to court try to block this law. They're asking a judge to issue an injunction, blocking it from effect. We're waiting to see if that judge will rule before the implementation day on Thursday. Has your office received any head's up on whether or when you might get such a ruling?

BREWER: Well, we haven't. As I left the office this evening, I thought maybe we might have some breaking news for you, John, but it didn't come. But, you know, it's not 5:00 yet. And it's not unusual sometimes for these judges to make a decision and then release it at 05:00. So, you know, we were hoping that we would get it today. If not, I'm sure that tomorrow might be the big day. And I understand you'll be out in Arizona tomorrow so --

KING: I'll be there and I'll come and say hello. Let me ask you lastly, I know you disagree with the president on this issue. You had a meeting with him at the White House.

BREWER: I do.

KING: I spoke with you afterwards. You disagree on this issue. The president was hoping to pass what he calls comprehensive immigration reform this year. It looks like it won't happen. There is a chance it could come up in what they call a lame duck session of Congress after the election. And in our poll, we asked Americans, would you allow illegal immigrants to stay in the United States if they have a job and if they pay taxes? 94 percent of white Americans said yes, 82 percent of black Americans said yes, 78 percent of Hispanics said yes in our poll. Three major groups of the American population saying they could support that. Now, I know critics sometimes call that amnesty, saying if they came in illegally, they should not be allowed to stay. If the president were to ask for your help after the election, saying, look, I'll do more on border security, maybe we disagree on that, but would you help me on this issue pass something comprehensive that allowed people to stay, get a path to legal status? Would you help him?

BREWER: I would tell him, secure our borders. You know, everything's off the table I believe in Arizona until we get our borders secure. That's our number one priority. It's unfortunate it has to be that way. But the people of Arizona, the people of America, have been promised that our borders would be secured for years and years and years, with it not happening. And I don't believe the people of America, certainly not the people of Arizona, are ready to discuss anything other at this point in time other than securing our borders.

Let's take care of this issue of illegal immigration. Then we can sit down and be opened and have good dialogue to discuss what it is that he would like to accomplish.

KING: Governor Brewer, we appreciate your time tonight. We hope to say hello when we're on the ground there in Arizona.

BREWER: Thank you.