Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey spent years opposing divisive anti-immigration legislation, then embraced it this year.
But he was forced to backtrack late Thursday after business groups and immigrant rights activists revolted.
The Republican governor pulled a proposal to enshrine an existing sanctuary city ban in the state Constitution.
Opponents say Ducey made a major political mistake that would have hurt the state.
They point to a 2010 Arizona law that cracked down on illegal immigration and led to boycotts and damage to the state's reputation.
Ducey contends he hadn't changed course, though he spent his first term repairing the damage caused by that law.
