Arizona residents to vote on law allowing state police to arrest illegal immigrants

Arizona residents will vote on a ballot measure this November which would give Arizona state police the authority to arrest illegal immigrants who enter the state through the United States and Mexico border, after the state legislature approved it on Tuesday.

The ballot measure is similar to ones passed in Texas and Iowa, which allow state police to arrest people in the country illegally, and even allow judges to deport the migrants. But under the Arizona law, the first offense would be punishable by up to six months in jail. The Texas and Iowa laws have both been met with backlash by the Biden administration, which claims the laws infringe on federal authority.

The Republican-led legislation in Arizona already passed the state Senate last month, and passed in the state House in a 31-29 vote. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a similar legislation in March.

“I’m an immigrant. This is not anti-immigrant. This is anti-lawlessness,” House Speaker Ben Toma (R) said on the House floor, The Hill reported. “It’s about securing our border because the federal government has failed to do their job. The people of Arizona will get the final say in this issue. And I’m proud to send it to them.”

Hobbs warned that the earlier legislation would be found unconstitutional in federal courts, and would cost the state a lot of money to fight. She also claimed the law would harm immigrant communities. 

“This bill does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state, and burdensome for law enforcement personnel and the state judicial system,” Hobbs said in her March veto. “Business leaders, border law enforcement, and bipartisan local leaders throughout the state who oppose this bill know it will not make us safer, instead it will demonize our communities and lead to racial profiling."

Although illegal immigration is already prohibited in the U.S., Iowa, Texas, and now Arizona lawmakers claim their states need more control on the subject because the federal government is failing to secure the border.