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Official Statement June 14, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOENIX – The Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE) will be hosting a DACA clinic on Friday, June 14, to mark the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The all-day event will give current DACA recipients the opportunity to renew and protect their DACA at no cost, offering scholarships to cover 100% of the application fee. With DACA in the hands of the 5th Circuit –a court that has ruled against immigrant communities in the past– our community faces a potentially catastrophic decision on DACA this year. Along with the uncertainty of the program, our DACAmented community is under constant attack by Republican leadership trying to strip away their rights. At the same time, Arizona is also proposing a bill, HCR 2060, that would grant police unchecked power to racially profile and strip immigrants from the communities they call home. For many, the 12th anniversary of DACA is not a moment of celebration but rather a reminder of DACA’s fragile, uncertain future and how this program continues to exclude millions of our loved ones and even fail the individuals it is supposed to protect. As we continue to push for the strengthening and expansion of protections for DACA recipients, we celebrate those in our DACAmented community living fearlessly in Arizona. “The DACA Program has served a valuable purpose for 12 years offering some protection and some form of normalcy for hundreds of thousands of recipients across the country. But this is not enough, without comprehensive immigration reform, the attacks on the program will continue,” said Karime Rodriguez, Servicios Director at ACE. Rodriguez continued, “DACA Recipients will continue to live in limbo, and under threat that their security could be ripped out from under them at a moment's notice. Comprehensive immigration reform must be the number one priority number for the Pres. Biden's administration and Congress."

LUCHA Warns Lack of Investments Threatens the Livelihoods of Arizonans and Weakens the State’s Economy For Immediate Release June 13, 2024 PHOENIX – The State Legislature has released its FY2025 State Budget proposal marking an urgent crossroads for Arizona as it grapples with a $1 billion budget deficit created by rampant tax handouts to wealthy and corporations. While the latest budget proposal avoids major cuts to essential services such as public education, healthcare, and housing, it is not a budget that allows for the public to thrive. Ultimately, a budget is a moral document. This, though, is a budget that largely benefits the wealthy due to decades of tax cuts for the rich, falling short of the bold investments needed for Arizona families to thrive and for our economy to prosper. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) believes that Arizona’s long-term prosperity has been undermined by years of budget cuts under Republican leadership and corporate tax handouts, such as the Ducey tax cuts. A recent study published by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that Arizona’s tax system has grown significantly more upside-down in the past 5 years, moving Arizona from 27th most regressive in the rankings to 13th on ITEP’s Tax Inequality Index, just ahead of Alabama, the biggest fall of any state. These policies have disproportionately affected our most vulnerable communities and critical services like our public education system, and support programs for affordable housing. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Arizona will lose over $14 billion in revenue by 2028, over 10% of our state’s general fund because of the 2021 tax cuts. These cuts were tilted both toward the wealthy and toward white Arizonans at the expense of everyone else. The Arizona Center for Economic Progress found that only 21% of the tax cut will go to households of color. That’s why LUCHA is calling on the Legislature to envision a future in which budget negotiations are not a time for cuts, but rather a time to come together to meet the needs of its everyday citizens, which are suffering crisis upon crisis. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA, stated, “The tax dollars of Arizona’s working families are being stretched to cover the bare minimum baseline for our schools, roads, and housing because corporations and the wealthy aren’t paying their fair share. For too long, politicians have cut taxes for the rich and special interests at the expense of everyday Arizonans. There must be no higher priority for our Governor and Legislators than to unrig our tax code, repeal ESAs, and balance a budget that has the resources to fund basic necessities and more. It is time to invest in our future and support public education, make sustainable investments in the Housing Trust Fund, and expand paid family and medical leave statewide. We cannot cut our way to prosperity. This is about building a sustainable and equitable future for all Arizonans because our communities deserve better. Without addressing the root causes of revenue shortfalls and tax inequities, Arizona's progress will remain stunted. The solution is right in front of us, and it’s time for action.” A People First Budget Priorities LUCHA’s 2024 Legislative Priorities: Protecting Essential Resources: Prioritizing housing, education, and healthcare in the State Budget to ensure safe, healthy, and thriving communities. Addressing the Housing Crisis: Investing in housing assistance and implementing statewide rent stabilization to support families and prevent homelessness. Expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave: Advocating for the Arizona Thriving Families Act (ATFA) to provide comprehensive support for working families. Creating a Fair Tax Code and Raising Revenue: Proposing multi-state corporate tax and corporate tax credit repeals to ensure the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. Building an Inclusive Democracy: Introducing automatic voter registration to strengthen democratic participation and ensure every voice is heard. “Flipping the legislature from Republican control is essential to giving Governor Hobbs the legislative support necessary to provide Arizonans with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Gina Mendez, LUCHA’s Organizing Director and Campaign Manager. “Electing a legislature committed to investing in public education, affordable housing, healthcare, and fair tax policies will ensure that every Arizonan has the chance to succeed. This November, we have a crucial opportunity to bring about meaningful change and create a brighter future for all Arizona families.”

A sweeping ballot proposition approved by the Arizona Legislature might not reach voters after a lawsuit was filed claiming it addresses more than one subject, in violation of the state constitution. By Camaron Stevenson, The Copper Courier Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) filed a challenge to the proposal, known as HCR 2060, with the Arizona Superior Court shortly after it was passed along party lines in the state legislature. The complaint claims the measure would be in violation of a mandate in the Arizona Constitution that bills and ballot measures only address one subject. “Every act shall embrace but one subject and matters properly connected therewith, which subject shall be expressed in the title,” the state constitution reads. “But if any subject shall be embraced in an act which shall not be expressed in the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be embraced in the title.” Bipartisan support for single-subject law While the title of the bill—”border; benefits; fentanyl; illegal entry”—covers much of what’s in the proposal, there are provisions that don’t appear to fall under any of the four categories listed. LUCHA’s claim goes further and alleges the title and provisions in the bill are so broad that it violates the single subject rule. The group is urging the courts to reject the measure in its entirety. “We want to prevent this from going forward because it takes advantage of this unlawful and sinister tactic, where you put a bunch of stuff in one thing and you make them pick between what they like,” said Jim Barton, the attorney representing LUCHA. “Maybe they’re worried about fentanyl, but they don’t like the racism, and they don’t really think anybody’s taking their jobs, but they worry about public benefits. That person now is given this unfair choice.” Barton’s argument against violating the single-subject rule is strikingly similar to that of Republican Sen. John Kavanagh, who in 2021 sponsored Prop 129, a ballot referral to expand this rule to include citizen initiatives. It was approved by a majority of voters in 2022, signaling popular support for single-issue legislation. “It’s unfair to the people who you ask to vote to have more than one subject area, because it’s quite possible that the individual will be very much supportive of one of the subjects, but not supportive of the other,” said Kavanagh. “It’s a matter of treating the voters with respect, and let the people who run these initiatives do a little more work.” Laws affected by the proposition Despite his vocal support for single-subject laws, Kavanagh and every Republican in the legislature voted to pass HCR 2060, which would create or change nine different state laws, according to a fiscal note on the bill prepared by Mitch Wenzel, a fiscal analyst for the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The text of HCR 2060 outlines four different titles, or subject classifications of state law, that would be amended. The bill’s far-reaching nature is expected to impact at least six different titles in the Arizona Revised Statutes—five more than should be impacted by ballot propositions, as mandated by the Arizona Constitution’s single-subject rule. The titles that would be affected are: Title 1: General Provision It is currently a class 2 misdemeanor to falsify documents in order to receive state or federal public benefits. HCR 2060 would raise the charge to a class 6 felony. Title 12: Courts and Civil Proceedings The proposed law would expand qualified immunity to protect any government employee “from civil liability for damages arising from enforcing laws related to illegal entry or orders to return to foreign nation.” It would also give power to the minority leaders in the legislature to file lawsuits specifically in relation to HCR 2060, whereas state law currently only affords that power to the attorney general, the Senate president, and the speaker of the House. The reason for this addition, according to Democratic Sen. Juan Mendez, is a failsafe measure for Republicans. The conservative party currently holds a slim, two-seat majority in both the Senate and the House, and a major effort is underway by Democrats this year to win control of the legislature. The provision would allow Republicans to circumvent Democratic leadership should they lose their majority in either chamber. “I believe they are adding in the minority positions because they expect to lose their majority in at least one chamber in the upcoming election,” Mendez told The Copper Courier. “And they still want to be able to file lawsuits to stop us from governing.” Title 13: Criminal Code Crimes involving crossing the US-Mexico border are violations of federal law and can only be enforced by federal law enforcement. HCR 2060 would change the criminal code by making unauthorized entry into Arizona a state crime. A first offense would be a class 1 misdemeanor, and any following offense would be a class 6 felony. The proposition would also give local judges the authority to deport anyone convicted under this law; currently that authority rests with US Department of Justice (DOJ) immigration courts. The DOJ filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas earlier this year after it passed a similar law, which is currently working its way through the courts. The suit claims the law is in violation of the US Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which prevents states from enforcing certain federal laws. Under HCR 2060, Penalties would also be increased for charges relating to the sale of fentanyl if it’s proven that what the individual sold caused the death of another person. The charge would go from a class 6 felony to a class 2 felony, and an additional five-year prison sentence would be added to any sentence. Title 23: Labor State law requires employers to use a federal program called E-Verify to confirm employees are eligible to work in the United States. HCR 2060 would make it a state crime for a worker to submit false documents through E-Verify. Violations would be a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense, a class 6 felony for future offenses, and anyone guilty would be ineligible for probation or pardon until after their sentence is served. Title 31: Prisons and Prisoners With the creation of several misdemeanors and felonies, HCR 2060 also mandates cooperation by law enforcement and the Arizona Department of Corrections. Transportation of convicted individuals is currently the sole responsibility of the ADC; under the current proposal, all law enforcement would be required to transport anyone convicted of illegal entry into the US. The ADC would also be required to detain anyone arrested or convicted for unauthorized entry if local law enforcement lacks the capacity to do so. Title 36: Public Health and Safety Any noncitizen who applies for public benefits is required by law to prove their eligibility. HCR 2060 would make it a requirement for any state agency that administers benefits to verify eligibility as well through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program. Court date imminent Republicans who support the measure appear unfazed by the lawsuit. House Majority Leader Rep. Ben Toma told KJZZ reporter Wayne Shutsky that HCR 2060 isn’t in any legal danger. “On the single subject, that’s been cleared already,” Toma said. “We’re good.” No ballot measure has ever been removed for violating the single-subject law. In 2018, a lawsuit was filed to block a legislative referral that aimed to change how the Citizen’s Clean Elections Commission distributed its funds and give additional oversight authority to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. However, both changes fell within Title 16 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the changes were related closely enough not to violate the single-subject law. A court date has not yet been set for the challenge, but Barton said it would be on a judicial fast-track so the matter can be settled before ballots are finalized in August. “I think the courts will have some motivation to be prompt about it because they’re going to have other challenges,” said Barton. “There will be other ballot measures that the court’s going to have to work its way through, so I can see it wanting to get this one taken care of.” Should the courts rule in favor of HCR 2060, it will appear as a proposition on the November ballot. Link to original article: https://coppercourier.com/2024/06/13/arizona-lucha-immigration-ballot-lawsuit/

El Legislativo consultará a los electores sobre la nueva iniciativa que, entre otras, convertiría en crimen estatal cruzar la frontera de manera irregular Por Agencia EFE En Arizona los inmigrantes son el blanco de una de las iniciativas de ley más severas en contra de la migración indocumentada en Estados Unidos, que votó el Legislativo y que prepara el terreno para un posible segundo mandato del ex presidente Donald Trump. Los activistas consideran que esta propuesta forma parte de una “manipulación política” del Partido Republicano para impulsar la agenda migratoria del exmandatario. “Esta propuesta abre la puerta para legalizar el racismo y el perfil racial en Arizona, viene a avivar más el fuego en una contienda electoral marcada por la división”, dijo a EFE Karime Rodríguez, directiva en Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA). Arizona se suma a Texas y Florida Esta ley, la HCR-2060, fue aprobada por el pleno de la Cámara Baja de Arizona y de ahí pasará a las urnas en noviembre. Siguiendo los pasos de Texas y Florida, legisladores republicanos en Arizona impulsaron la medida, conocida también como Ley para Asegurar la Frontera. Esta propuesta además autorizaría a los departamentos policiales locales y estatales arrestar a personas “sospechosas” de ser inmigrantes indocumentados. Igualmente daría a los jueces la autoridad de enviar de regreso a migrantes indocumentados y obligaría a las agencias estatales a utilizar el programa federal de E-verify para verificar el estatus migratorio de las personas que solicitan beneficios públicos. La idea del plebiscito, según los activistas, es evitar el veto de la gobernadora de Arizona, la demócrata Katie Hobbs, quien lo hizo con iniciativas similares. “Esta propuesta tiene muchas fallas; para empezar no establece fondos adicionales para que los departamentos policiacos puedan implementar esta legislación”, se quejó Rodríguez. Tampoco ha establecido si aplicará solo en la zona fronteriza o en todo el estado y si afecta a todos los inmigrantes indocumentados o aquellos que apenas crucen la frontera. Reacciones a la propuesta que se votará en Arizona Diversas organizaciones, entre ellas LUCHA, se preparan para derrotarla en las urnas. “Nuestro plan es tocar miles de puertas, educar a los votantes y registrar el mayor número de personas para votar”, explicaron. Sobre todo buscan que los electores entiendan muy bien lo que representa esta legislación y no crean la “falsa” retórica con la que está siendo impulsada. Activistas consideran que los republicanos buscan “manipular” el voto, tratando de impulsar iniciativas antiinmigrantes para continuar con la agenda de Trump. Un antecedente polémico: SB-1070 Karime Rodríguez era una niña cuando en 2010 se implementó la polémica ley estatal SB-1070, conocida como “muéstrame tus papeles” y que fomentaba la discriminación racial. “Recuerdo las marchas y el gran dolor que causó a nuestras comunidades”, dijo. La SB-1070 convirtió a Arizona en el epicentro del debate migratorio y la lucha en su contra desató un boicot económico en contra del estado, así como la cancelación de conferencias y conciertos de varios artistas. Al final, el Supremo de Estados Unidos eliminó gran parte de la legislación, pero continúa vigente la autorización que tienen los departamentos de policías locales de cuestionar el estatus migratorio de los detenidos. La vieja polémica por “muéstrame tus papeles” Sin embargo, solo pueden llamar a la Patrulla Fronteriza para que sean estos quienes verifiquen y procesen al detenido, algo que cambiaría con la HCR-2060. La joven activista, que fue traída a EE.UU. por sus padres cuando tenía 2 años, provenientes de México, está convencida que el Arizona que implementó la SB-1070 es ahora “muy diferente”. Considera que en 2020 los votantes demostraron que ya no son “tan conservadores” y podrían favorecer de nuevo en las urnas al presidente Joe Biden frente a Trump. El miedo a lo que viene en Arizona También en 2020, los votantes aprobaron una iniciativa de ley que permitió a los jóvenes indocumentados graduados de escuelas secundarias locales pagar matrículas iguales a las de residentes del estado en colegios y universidades. “Si la HCR-2060 es aprobada va a lastimar mucho más a nuestra comunidad, creando una división en las urnas”, dijo a EFE Petra Falcón, una de las activistas que luchó contra SB-1070. “Me temo que esta legislación busca movilizar a toda esta gente conservadora que apoya a Trump, que tiene odio al inmigrante para que salga a votar y eso es muy peligroso para nuestra comunidad”, subrayó la también directora de Promesa Arizona. Falcón considera que los republicanos simplemente “no quieren perder Arizona” en noviembre, ya que este se ha convertido en un estado péndulo donde cerca de un cuarto de los votantes elegibles para votar son de origen latino. Enlace original: https://www.lanacion.com.ar/estados-unidos/arizona/asi-puede-afectar-a-la-comunidad-latina-el-plebiscito-migratorio-de-arizona-nid12062024/

Por Dyana Villa, Univision Arizona La Cámara de Representantes de Arizona confirmó el voto final para aprobar que la propuesta HCR 2060 aparezca en las boletas de noviembre. Ante esto, la organización LUCHA presentó su demanda oficial a la Corte Suprema de Arizona para intentar prevenir que la enmienda a la propuesta se apruebe en las urnas. “La HCR 2060 viola la regla de un solo objetivo porque tiene múltiples temas, es algo siniestro que hizo la legislatura”, dijo Jim Barton, abogado de LUCHA. Enlace original: https://www.univision.com/local/arizona-ktvw/presentan-demanda-para-frenar-propuesta-de-ley-antiinmigrante-hcr-2060-video

For more than a decade, the U.S. has celebrated National Immigrant Heritage Month, a commemoration throughout June that aims to celebrate, honor and educate others on the contributions that immigrants have made to the country. By Erick Trevino, AZCentral/ La Voz Leer en español mas abajo This year, like many years, the celebration is bittersweet, as communities in Arizona and across the U.S. grapple with a new executive order targeting asylum seekers and a state ballot initiative focused on expelling undocumented immigrants. "This month, we honor the contributions and celebrate the remarkable courage of our Nation’s immigrants, whose hopes and dreams helped found this country and continue to push us forward today," President Joe Biden said in a proclamation issued May 31 on the monthlong observance, the third consecutive one he's issued since 2022. "On day one of my Administration, I sent a comprehensive plan to the Congress to fix our broken immigration system. It aimed to expand legal pathways of immigration; provide protections for Dreamers and others who contribute to this country; and address the violence, corruption, and instability that leads many to flee their homes," the proclamation reads. On Tuesday, days after the proclamation was issued, Biden signed an executive order restricting asylum cases when the southern border with Mexico experiences a high number of migrant encounters — a decision that provoked strong criticism from both sides of the aisle as well as immigrant rights groups. That same day, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HCR 2060, a collection of initiatives that would target undocumented immigrants in the state, which has been referred to as "SB 1070 2.0," considered an even more aggressive approach to the controversial 2010 "show me your papers" law. The approval in the House gave the measure a clear path to appear on the November ballot. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants make up 13% of Arizona's population, or 1 in every 8 residents. They account for 20% of the state's business owners — nearly one-third when it comes to Phoenix metro. With recent events, local activists and organizations have taken the news as an opportunity to highlight the importance of this month and recognize how fundamental the immigrant community is to the country. Immigrant Heritage Month, a celebration since 2014 The I Stand With Immigrants / I Am An Immigrant Initiative launched the first Immigrant Heritage Month in 2014 to celebrate the diverse cultures and experiences and build community among immigrants. For the past 10 years, the initiative — powered by the immigrant advocacy nonprofit FWD.us Education Fund Inc. — has hosted events in major U.S. cities. It has collaborated with local restaurants and food trucks to showcase immigrant cuisine, created campaigns with celebrities like Pitbull and Lupita Nyong'o to bring awareness to the young holiday and encouraged the community to demand change from lawmakers. This messaging resonates strongly with Arizona's growing population. “This month, I think it's a great opportunity for us to shine light that immigrants are human beings that live in Arizona," said Reyna Montoya, founder and CEO of Aliento, an organization that supports immigrant and mixed-status families with necessary resources. "We're so interconnected in our communities," she said, adding that immigrants take part in all sectors of society, "from volunteering at church or school, to having the younger ones going to school who are going to be our future doctors and teachers." According to the Migration Policy Institute, the immigrant population in Arizona has grown by 346% since 1990, from 278,205 to 962,688 in 2022. And despite its sordid past with the controversial SB 1070 law, Arizona has seen several policies protecting immigrants enacted in the state and in the U.S. — a sign of shifting sentiment, from the enactment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, in 2012, to the passing of Arizona's SB 1240 in 2021, which allows consular registration cards to be used as a form of identification. The decision whether to pass HCR 2060 will be up to Arizona voters in the November general election. And if history is any indication, voters could reject it. In 2022, Arizonans voted in support of Proposition 308, which allows certain undocumented students to be eligible for in-state tuition. “We think about immigration or immigrants as a political component or about partisanship, but we're talking about human beings,” Montoya said. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has been vocal about immigrants' rights and their contributions to the state's economy and culture and has pushed back against Republican-backed immigration bills that seek to make federal immigration law a state issue. Arizona does not officially recognize June as Immigrant Heritage Month, although Democratic members of its Legislature tried in 2020 and again in 2021 to make it an official observation via concurrent resolutions in the Arizona Senate. Empowering Arizona's immigrant communities Several organizations in Arizona advocate for migrant rights. Among them is Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), which has unceasingly fought against proposals targeting immigrants throughout this legislative session. On Wednesday, the group filed a lawsuit in an effort to prevent HCR 2060 from appearing on the November ballot. Other organizations like Aliento, which are also active in protests and demonstrations, focus their efforts on hosting workshops throughout the month to help those struggling with mental health, which can be higher among immigrant communities, especially given recent events. “This week has been very heavy,” Montoya said. “Policies like 2060 can really be separating families. So rather than only focusing on the pain, (the holiday month is about) being able to illustrate what this means for immigrant communities.” Poder Latinx, an organization that aims to build political power among the Latinx community, is using this month to prepare for the ballot in November. “It's (about) really incorporating these holidays to mobilize our community to engage, to educate our folks on what's coming up in November,” said Yadira Sanchez, executive director of Poder Latinx. The organization hosts workshops that help immigrants become active civic members — from seeking permanent residency to applying for citizenship and ultimately registering to vote. “Not only do we want them to become U.S. citizens, which is a major milestone, but we want them to be civically engaged through the electoral process,” said Nancy Herrera, Arizona State Program director at Poder Latinx. June is also an opportunity for them to highlight the contributions immigrants have made to the economy, education and local businesses. “We cannot abandon the immigrant community. We need to be standing firm and proud next to our brothers and sisters,” Sanchez said. Link to original article: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/immigration/2024/06/08/what-celebrating-immigrant-heritage-month-looks-like-in-arizona/74007436007/ En junio se celebra el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Inmigrante. Así se observa en Arizona Durante más de una década, Estados Unidos ha celebrado el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Inmigrante, una conmemoración que abarca todo junio cuyo objetivo es celebrar, honrar y educar a otros sobre las contribuciones que los inmigrantes han hecho al país. Este año, como muchos años, la celebración es agridulce, a medida que las comunidades de Arizona y de todo Estados Unidos se enfrentan a una nueva orden ejecutiva dirigida a los solicitantes de asilo en la frontera sur y a una iniciativa estatal centrada en la expulsión de inmigrantes indocumentados. "Este mes, honramos las contribuciones y celebramos el notable coraje de los inmigrantes de nuestra nación, cuyas esperanzas y sueños ayudaron a fundar este país y continúan impulsándonos hacia adelante hoy", dijo el presidente Joe Biden en una proclamación emitida el 31 de mayo sobre la celebración de junio. Es el tercer año consecutivo que reconoce el mes festivo. "El primer día de mi administración, envié un plan integral al Congreso para arreglar nuestro fallido sistema de inmigración. Su objetivo era ampliar las vías legales de inmigración; brindar protección a los Dreamers y otros que contribuyen a este país; y abordar la violencia, la corrupción e inestabilidad que lleva a muchos a huir de sus hogares", lee el documento. El martes, días después de que se emitiera la proclamación, Biden firmó una orden ejecutiva que restringe los casos de asilo cuando la frontera sur con México experimente un alto número de encuentros con migrantes, acto que recibió críticas bipartidistas y por parte de defensores de derechos migrantes. Ese mismo día, la Cámara de Representantes de Arizona aprobó la HCR 2060, una colección de iniciativas que ponen el blanco en migrantes indocumentados en el estado que ha sido denominada la "SB 1070 2.0", considerada un enfoque aún más agresivo a la controvertida ley "muéstrame tus papeles" de 2010. Su aprobación en la Cámara le dio camino libre a la medida para ser aprobada por los votantes durante las elecciones generales. Según el Concilio Americano de Inmigración, al menos el trece por ciento de la población de Arizona se identifica como inmigrante, o 1 de cada 8 residentes. Representan el 20% de los propietarios de empresas del estado — que sería más de un tercio cuando se trata del área metropolitana de Phoenix. Con los acontecimientos recientes, activistas y organizaciones locales aprovechan para resaltar la importancia de este mes y reconocer lo fundamental que es la comunidad inmigrante para el país. Mes de la Herencia Inmigrante, una celebración desde 2014 La iniciativa I Stand With Immigrants / I Am An Immigrant lanzó el primer Mes anual de la Herencia Inmigrante en 2014 para celebrar la diversidad de culturas y experiencias, y construir una comunidad entre los inmigrantes. Durante los últimos diez años, la iniciativa, impulsada por la organización sin fines de lucro FWD.us Education Fund, Inc. que aboga por los derechos de migrantes, ha organizado eventos en las principales ciudades de Estados Unidos. Han colaborado con restaurantes locales para mostrar la gastronomía mundial que llega a territorio estadounidense gracias a migrantes; crearon campañas con celebridades como Pitbull y Lupita Nyong'o para generar conciencia sobre el festejo anual; y alentaron a la comunidad a exigir cambios a los legisladores por el bien de la comunidad migrante. Este mensaje resuena fuertemente en la creciente población de Arizona. "Este mes, creo que es una gran oportunidad para nosotros para resaltar que los inmigrantes son seres humanos que viven en Arizona", dijo Reyna Montoya, fundadora y directora ejecutiva de Aliento, una organización que apoya a familias inmigrantes y de estatus mixto. "Estamos muy interconectados en nuestras comunidades", y agregó que los inmigrantes participan en todos los sectores de la sociedad, "desde el voluntariado en la iglesia o la escuela, hasta que los más jóvenes vayan a la escuela y sean nuestros futuros médicos y maestros". La población inmigrante en Arizona ha crecido un 346% desde 1990, de 278,205 a 962,688 en 2022, según el Instituto de Política Migratoria. Y a pesar de lo ocurrido con la controvertida ley SB 1070, Arizona ha visto varias políticas que protegen a los inmigrantes promulgadas en Arizona y en EEUU, señal de sentimiento cambiante —desde la promulgación de la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia, o DACA, en 2012, hasta la aprobación de la SB 1240 de Arizona en 2021, que permite el uso de matrículas consulares como forma de identificación. La decisión de aprobar la HCR 2060 dependerá de los votantes de Arizona en las elecciones generales de noviembre. Y si la historia sirve de alguna indicación, los votantes podrían rechazarla. En 2022, los arizonenses votaron a favor de la Proposición 308, que permite que ciertos estudiantes indocumentados sean elegibles para la matrícula estatal. “Pensamos en la inmigración o en los inmigrantes como un componente político o en el partidismo, pero estamos hablando de seres humanos”, dijo Montoya. La actual gobernadora Katie Hobbs ha expresado su opinión sobre los derechos de los inmigrantes y sus contribuciones a la economía y la cultura del estado, y ha rechazado los proyectos de ley de inmigración republicanos que buscan hacer de la ley federal de inmigración una cuestión estatal. Empoderar a las comunidades migrantes de Arizona Existen varias organizaciones en el estado de Arizona que abogan por los derechos de migrantes. Entre ellas Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), que entabló una demanda el miércoles para evitar que la HCR 2060 llegue a votantes en noviembre. Aliento también organiza talleres durante todo el mes de junio para ayudar a quienes luchan con la salud mental, que puede ser mayor entre las comunidades migrantes, sobretodo tras los acontecimientos recientes. “Esta semana ha sido muy pesada”, dijo Montoya. “Políticas como la de 2060 realmente pueden estar separando familias. Entonces, en lugar de centrarnos únicamente en el dolor, (la festividad se trata de) poder ilustrar lo que esto significa para las comunidades de inmigrantes”. Poder Latinx, una organización que tiene como objetivo crecer el poder político entre la comunidad Latinx, está utilizando este mes para prepararse para las elecciones de noviembre. “Se trata realmente de incorporar estos días festivos para movilizar a nuestra comunidad a participar, para educar a nuestra gente sobre lo que se avecina en noviembre”, dijo Yadira Sánchez, directora ejecutiva de Poder Latinx. La organización organiza talleres que ayudan a los inmigrantes a convertirse en miembros cívicos, desde buscar la residencia permanente hasta solicitar la ciudadanía y, en última instancia, registrarse para votar. “No sólo queremos que se conviertan en ciudadanos estadounidenses, lo cual es un hito importante, sino que también queremos que participen cívicamente durante el proceso electoral”, dijo Nancy Herrera, directora del programa estatal de Arizona en Poder Latinx. El mes de junio ​​también representa una oportunidad para resaltar las contribuciones que los inmigrantes han hecho a la economía, la educación y las empresas locales. “No podemos abandonar a la comunidad inmigrante. Necesitamos estar firmes y orgullosos al lado de nuestros hermanos y hermanas”, dijo Sánchez. Enlace original: https://www.azcentral.com/story/noticias/2024/06/08/en-junio-se-celebra-el-mes-nacional-de-la-herencia-inmigrante/74020467007/

Por Oscar Ramos, Prensa Arizona Podcast

Activists challenged the constitutionality of an Arizona ballot proposal they say violates the state’s single-subject law in a lawsuit filed against Arizona’s secretary of state Wednesday in an effort to block a controversial voter resolution from hitting the ballot in November. By Joe Duhownik, Tucson Sentinel The nonprofit Living United for Change in Arizona, along with Democratic state Representative Oscar De Los Santos and others, object to House Concurrent Resolution 2060, which proposes enforcement of federal law against border crossings outside legal ports of entry at the state level, making it a felony to submit false citizenship documents to government programs for employers and establishment of “lethal sale of fentanyl” as a felony act if the seller knows the product contained fentanyl and the fentanyl was the main cause of death of the user. “The Republican legislators have all but conceded that this measure embraces more than a single subject,” Living United for Change attorney Jim Barton said outside the Arizona Supreme Court Wednesday morning as the lawsuit was filed. Standing behind a podium, he quoted House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican from Peoria and a sponsor of the resolution that defended it Wednesday afternoon on the House floor. “He said 'HCR2060 does three things. It enhances sentencing for fentanyl dealing, it strengthens E-Verify, it prevents submitting false documents for public benefits, and it makes it a crime to enter the state illegally,’” Barton said. He counted the four actions on his fingers, feigning confusion to see four, rather than three. “Even in his statement, he admits it’s three things and then he lists four things!” Barton said. The single-subject rule is meant to prevent voter confusion and forced choice between two subjects voters may have competing feelings for. “This rule ensures that acts of the legislature do not result in surprise from unrelated propositions that are under the same act to attract majority support for what otherwise would be unpopular measures,” Barton said. “It avoids tucking away less popular aspects into a popular measure.” By Republican lawmakers’ admissions in floor debates and committee meetings, HCR 2060 is a collection of provisions from 10 bills sent to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who vetoed them earlier in the year. The resolution was sent to the secretary of state Tuesday after the Arizona House gave it the final push it needed to reach the ballot in November. The bill received sharp criticisms that, among many things, it would encourage police to rely on racial profiling to enforce. Democratic lawmakers say a line giving police immunity for actions taken in furtherance of the law confirms those fears. They’ve also complained that the resolution would violate the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause by enforcing federal law at the state level, and that it violates the state constitution because it lacks a revenue source. If the resolution remains on the ballot and is approved by the voters, Barton said Living United for Change will sue on those grounds. But for now, the plaintiffs can’t sue based on projected effects of the legislation. Instead, they must prove why the proposal is unconstitutional on its face to remove it from the ballot. The plaintiffs have just under two months to seek an injunction before the ballots are finalized. Barton said he anticipates Toma and state Senate President Warren Petersen will intervene in the case and argue that the resolution abides by the single-subject rule, as every problem the resolution aims to fix is a result of the border crisis. “You can’t say because we think brown people are the problem, everything we do to hurt brown people is a single subject,” Barton said. “That’s ridiculous.” Neither Petersen nor Toma immediately replied to emails requesting comment. Even if the measure makes it onto the ballot and is approved by voters, the legislation can’t take effect until 60 days after a Texas law the resolution is based on takes effect, if it isn’t struck down. That law is being litigated in federal court under the same claims that Barton listed Wednesday. Gina Mendez, organizing director for Living United for Change in Arizona, called on the public to raise awareness of the resolution and encourage more people to vote. “Today is the beginning of the end of HCR2060,” she said Wednesday morning. She said her organization will canvass “seven days a week” to educate people on the resolution and encourage them to vote against it and the legislators responsible for it. “It will be our mission to ensure that the architects of this bill will be defeated,” she said. “Because Arizona deserves better than this.” The secretary of state’s office didn’t answer a phone call for comment. Link to original article: https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060624_border_vote_lawsuit/activists-sue-block-controversial-immigration-voter-resolution-from-az-ballot/

A progressive advocacy group has filed a lawsuit challenging the controversial border ballot referral passed by Arizona Republican lawmakers, saying it violates the state Constitution. By Wayne Schutsky, Fronteras Desk KJZZ HCR 2060, which was approved along party lines in the Arizona House of Representatives on Tuesday, would make it a state crime to cross Arizona’s border with Mexico outside of a port of entry, empowering local and state police to enforce immigration law. During the vote, Democrats claimed the ballot referral covers too many different areas of law in violation of a state constitutional provision requiring individual pieces of legislation to stick to a single subject. “Instead, [HCR] 2060 embraces a hodgepodge of disparate subjects, including employment verification; immigration law, immigration enforcement; sentencing for drug crimes; laws related to city, town and county administration of public benefits; and the legislature's right to intervene in lawsuits,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos (D-Laveen), who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit alongside the group Living United for Change in Arizona. House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria), who sponsored the measure, disagreed. “On the single subject, that’s been cleared already; we’re good,” Toma said. But the lawsuit, filed Wednesday by attorney Jim Barton, points out that HCR 2060 includes aspects of multiple different Republican bills that failed or were vetoed earlier this year by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, including the border crossing measure that Republican lawmakers modeled on Texas’ SB 4. HCR 2060 also mirrored other legislation targeting people who sell fentanyl and those using fraudulent documents to obtain employment or public benefits. “This [single subject] rule ensures that acts of the Legislature do not result in surprise from unrelated propositions that are under the same act in order to attract majority support for what would otherwise be unpopular measures,” Barton said. Barton is asking a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to rule HCR 2060 unconstitutional and issue an order stopping the secretary of state from placing it on the ballot. “In a sense, there is a unifying principle behind HCR 2060, and that is the sinister scapegoating of immigrants for all the ills of our state. … Folks, racial animus and scapegoating of intimacy of immigrants are neither 1A single subject that satisfies Arizona's constitutional requirement for legislative acts,” Barton said. Toma, the bill’s Republican sponsor, criticized the lawsuit. “The Democrats' open border policies have wrought crime, deadly drugs, violence, unsafe communities and an unending financial drain on American taxpayers,” he said in a statement. “Arizonans have had enough and want change. HCR 2060 empowers Arizona voters to have their will heard, and that is clearly panicking liberal leaders and their activist allies who fiercely oppose any efforts to secure the border.” Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, is also preparing a campaign to convince voters to reject HCR 2060. “As a coalition, all the organizations have been in strong support against HCR 2060,” LUCHA spokesperson Scianna Garcia said. “Each org has been expending resources to fight it at the [Legislature] and will at the ballot box as well if needed.” The organization pointed to a list of business and faith groups compiled by the American Business Immigration Coalition that have already stated their opposition to the ballot referral. The list includes Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Local First Arizona, and Arizona Faith Network. “Defeating HCR 2060 begins in the courts, where we will challenge its constitutionality, and it will end at the ballot box,” LUCHA Executive Director Alejandra Gomez said. Both the American Business Immigration Coalition and Local First Arizona confirmed they plan to participate in the anti-HCR 2060 campaign. “ABIC is a member of the Arizona coalition, which is in the process of planning the next steps, including a campaign infrastructure and fundraising to defeat HCR 2060,” ABIC spokesperson Anna Núñez said. “Once it is set up, we will contribute.” Thomas Barr with Local First Arizona said his organization plans to continue sounding the alarm about HCR 2060’s potential negative impacts. Like LUCHA, business groups like Local First have compared HCR 2060 to the controversial SB 1070 immigration legislation passed in Arizona over a decade ago that became a political lightning rod and led to boycotts of the state. “We’ll continue to ensure Arizona voters are informed about the unintended consequences of this,” Barr said. He said it will draw negative attention to the state, hurt tourism and detract from efforts to attract new businesses to Arizona. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce also came out against HCR 2060 before the Legislature approved it, but chamber CEO Danny Seiden did not respond to a request to comment on whether the organization will participate in the anti-HCR 2060 campaign. At this point, little is known about who will spearhead the effort to convince voters to approve HCR 2060. Toma, the House speaker, said he anticipates a campaign will come together but said he believes the measure will pass at the ballot even without significant financial backing. “Actually, I think this is going to pass without much of a funding source on this,” Toma said. Funding should not be an issue for LUCHA’s campaign, as the organization has poured millions of dollars into Arizona elections in recent years. According to state campaign finance records, LUCHA spent over $1 million during the 2022 election cycle for and against several ballot-measure campaigns. All three measures the group supported received voter approval, including a measure providing in-state college tuition rates to "Dreamers" and another targeting "dark money" campaign contributions. Two of the three ballot measures LUCHA opposed were passed by voters, including a measure referred by the state Legislature imposing the “single subject” rule on citizen-led ballot initiatives. Also in 2022, LUCHA spent nearly $1 million for and against candidates for legislative and statewide offices. Link to original article: https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1881937/lucha-lawsuit-challenges-arizona-gop-border-security-measure-saying-it-isnt-single

LUCHA toma acción legal contra el HCR 2060. By Oscar Ramos, Prensa Arizona Lucha legal contra polémica propuesta antiinmigrante aprobada por republicanos Los republicanos de la legislatura estatal lograron poner la polémica resolución HCR 2060 en la boleta electoral, pero antes, sus detractores la están llevando a los tribunales al considerarla anticonstitucional y se alistan para combatirla en las urnas en caso de que el fallo no resulte favorable. HCR 2060 busca otorgar a los agentes de policía locales y jueces estatales el poder de arrestar y deportar inmigrantes, endurece las penas contra los traficantes de fentanilo y también el castigo para aquellos trabajadores y contratistas que evaden el sistema e-verify, Sin embargo, no se especifica de dónde saldrán los recursos para su aplicación y viola otra ley de los propios republicanos, que limita una propuesta de elección popular a un solo tema. La HCR 2060 fue repudiada por los más importantes organismos empresariales, líderes de la fe católica y decenas de organizaciones sociales en el estado. La “Ley para Proteger la Frontera”, convertiría en delito estatal que los migrantes crucen la frontera por cualquier lugar que no sea un puerto de entrada oficial y si los votantes lo aprueban, una primera infracción podría dar lugar a un delito menor de clase 1, que conlleva hasta 6 meses de cárcel y quienes crucen la frontera repetidamente podrían enfrentar penas mayores y penas de cárcel más largas. Con la evidente intención de capitalizar el tema de la inmigración en un año electoral, los republicanos culparon a la administración Biden por el problema y promocionaron sus propuestas como una solución al aumento en los cruces fronterizos en el estado, pero la aprobación de la HCR 2060 se da el mismo día que el Presidente ejerció una orden ejecutiva para restringir las peticiones de asilo y unos meses después de que los propios congresistas republicanos bloquearon una propuesta bipartidista por órdenes de su candidato y ahora delincuente convicto, Donald Trump. El costo para Arizona La HCR 2060 no incluye recursos económicos para las agencias encargadas de cumplirla a pesar de que la mayoría de ellas se encuentran en dificultades financieras y cuando el Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DPS, por sus siglas en inglés) está luchando contra una grave escasez de agentes, lo que deja a muchas zonas rurales sin supervisión durante la noche. En un análisis legislativo el DPS estimó que se vería obligado a reservar $3.8 millones cada año para cumplir con la propuesta, y proyectó que los costos totales para las agencias de aplicación de la ley en todo el estado podrían ascender a $41 millones sobre todo en gastos de transporte de indocumentados. Legisladores demócratas también alertaron que la remisión electoral brinda inmunidad legal y civil por daños y perjuicios a los agentes de policía que realicen arrestos. Los republicanos desestiman las preocupaciones de que la propuesta podría conducir a la discriminación racial y aseguran que los criterios para que se realicen arrestos, exigen que el propio agente sea testigo de un cruce ilegal, pruebas en vídeo u otros “indicios constitucionalmente suficientes de causa probable”. Un análisis económico independiente concluyó que implementar la medida costaría varios desde 343 millones hasta un billón de dólares al año. Pero el presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Ben Toma, afirmó que se ahorrará más si se corta el acceso de los indocumentados a los servicios sociales. Los republicanos argumentan que excluir a los indocumentados de los beneficios públicos es una medida de reducción de costos, pero el  el Departamento de Seguridad Económica, que supervisa los beneficios de jubilación y desempleo, y el Sistema de Contención de Costos de Atención Médica de Arizona, que maneja seguros médicos para personas de bajos ingresos, ya examinan el estatus migratorio de los solicitantes a través de la base de datos federal en línea de Verificación Sistemática de Derechos de Extranjeros. La cuestión legal La Constitución de Arizona, no contempla cambiar los gastos de una medida electoral con el dinero que supuestamente se ahorrará y dice  que una medida electoral que requiera cualquier “gasto obligatorio de ingresos estatales para cualquier propósito, también debe prever una mayor fuente de ingresos suficiente para cubrir todos los costos inmediatos y futuros de la propuesta y ese dinero no puede provenir del fondo operativo general del estado”. La organización social LUCHA lidera la demanda en los tribunales por cuestiones de un solo tema a votar y dado que esta propuesta tiene varias vertientes, se puede lanzar un desafío de este tipo antes de que los votantes tengan la oportunidad de opinar. “HCR 2060 es una lista de deseos de extrema derecha improvisada a partir de una variedad de leyes individuales previamente rechazadas. Cubre todo, desde una invasión imaginaria del estado hasta cargos criminales por drogas y la regulación del empleo”, dijo el abogado de LUCHA, Jim Barton. Crece el repudio La gobernadora Katie Hobbs expresó su frustración ante el pasaje de la HCR 2060 que lleva en paquete 3 propuestas de ley que ella previamente había vetado por considerarlas dañinas para Arizona. “HCR 2060 perjudicará a las empresas, enviará empleos fuera del estado, dificultará que las autoridades hagan su trabajo y arruinará el presupuesto, pero no asegurará nuestra frontera. A pesar de la fuerte oposición de los líderes empresariales, las autoridades fronterizas y los líderes locales bipartidistas, los extremistas han optado por priorizar sus agendas políticas sobre la búsqueda de soluciones reales”, finalizó Hobbs. Alicia Núñez,  Presidenta y Directora Ejecutiva de Chicanos Por La Causa expresó: “Chicanos Por La Causa se mantiene unido con los líderes de defensa de nuestros derechos comunitarios, empresariales y religiosos en una posición firme a la propuesta HCR2060. Creemos que esta revisión políticamente cargada de la SB1070 conducirá a la discriminación racial por parte de las fuerzas del orden público contra los latinos, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. “Además de afectar la reputación de Arizona, dañará la economía de nuestro estado, que se beneficia y depende de la mano de obra inmigrante. Entendemos la frustración por la situación en la frontera pero la solución es una reforma migratoria integral bipartidista a nivel federal no esta propuesta estatal. Es una propuesta sin fondos que cruza imprudentemente la frontera de la humanidad, así como las líneas definidas del derecho constitucional y el marco lógico de la respuesta racional. “Esta criminalización resultante de las personas se basa en la etnia, la desinformación, la sospecha, el miedo y el odio con la esperanza de obtener votos. Somos mejores que esto. Y continuaremos haciendo un llamado para que los Latinos defendamos nuestros derechos en las urnas electorales en noviembre. Somos más votantes registrados que años anteriores. La esperanza no muere aquí, la lucha continua. Unidos lo lograremos”, finalizó. La red de Consulados de México en Arizona, que incluye Phoenix, Tucson, Douglas, Nogales y Yuma expresó su desencanto con la aprobación y en comunicado de prensa, señaló: “La resolución fomenta una narrativa discriminatoria e intolerante que no refleja la valiosa contribución migrante al desarrollo y la prosperidad de Arizona y por el contrario, contribuye a crear un ambiente de incertidumbre y desconfianza al otorgar facultades a las autoridades locales en asuntos de carácter migratorio, que son de competencia federal”. Alejandra Gómez, directora de LUCHA anunció que ya se preparan para tocar un millón de puertas e informar a los votantes sobre los riesgos de aprobar la HCR 2060, en caso de que el fallo tribunal no resulte favorable. Link to original article: https://prensaarizona.com/la-hcr-2060-a-corte-y-a-la-boleta/

Por Jose Angel Galavis, Telemundo Arizona

Foes of what has been promoted as a “border security’’ measure filed suit Wednesday to keep it from going on the November ballot. By Howard Fischer, Arizona Daily Star PHOENIX — The lawsuit, filed by LUCHA (Living United for Change in Arizona), says there are constitutional and legal problems with House Concurrent Resolution 2060, approved Tuesday by Arizona’s Republican-controlled House. The GOP-controlled Senate previously approved the measure, so the House vote sends it directly to voters, bypassing Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who had vetoed a nearly identical bill. The strongest case for knocking it off the ballot, said LUCHA attorney Jim Barton, is that it has at least three major provisions, none of which relate directly to each other. He said that runs afoul of a provision in the Arizona Constitution limiting all measures to “one subject and matters properly connected therewith.’’ Barton said that even House Speaker Ben Toma, who crafted HCR 2060, spelled out during floor debate Tuesday that it would allow police to arrest those who cross the border illegally at other than a port of entry, require verification of the immigration status of those seeking public benefits, and enact enhanced penalties for the sale of fentanyl when it results in the death of another. “This is not some mere technicality,’’ Barton said of the constitutional provision, saying its intent is to avoid “tucking less popular aspects into a popular measure.” That practice is known as “logrolling,’’ where voters are presented with a take-it-or-leave-it measure. “They have to hold their nose and vote for provisions that they don’t want to get one that they do want,’’ Barton said. “The framers of the Arizona Constitution said that’s a ridiculous way to legislate and they forbid it when they wrote our constitution.’’ Toma disagreed. “I think all of these items are clearly related to the border,’’ the Peoria Republican said. Alejandra Gomez, executive director of LUCHA, says Wednesday that the fight against HCR 2060 will go now to court. On the fentanyl penalties provision, Toma cited “legislative findings’’ in the measure citing the amount of fentanyl seized at the U.S.’s Southwest border almost tripling from 2021 to 2023. “If you can prove that the fentanyl was not manufactured or brought over from Mexico, then that’s a defense,’’ he said. Toma said it would be “ironic’’ if LUCHA got the language about fentanyl stripped from the measure before it gets to voters, saying that is the one piece that appears to have at least some bipartisan support. Attorney Jim Barton provides details Wednesday of the lawsuit filed to block a border security measure from going on the November ballot. But Barton said that’s not how it works. He said judges can’t decide which provisions go to voters and which do not, which is why the litigation seeks to remove the entire measure from the November ballot. The question now is whether the Arizona Supreme Court, where the case filed in Maricopa County Superior Court ultimately will end up, finds that HCR 2060 fits the definition of “logrolling.’’ In 2021, the justices struck down a bid by lawmakers to include a host of policy decisions, such as mask mandates and dictating the kind of paper counties can use for ballots, in their state budget legislation. The court ruled that violated the single-subject rule. But three years earlier the court found no constitutional problem with a measure that on one hand prohibited public funds from the Citizens Clean Elections Commission from going to political parties, while at the same time subjecting the commission’s rules to oversight by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. The justices said they were “reasonably related to one general subject.’’ Barton, in Wednesday’s legal filing, said what lawmakers approved Tuesday doesn’t fit that definition. “HCR 2060 does not amend a specific, single act enacted by the Arizona voters or the Arizona Legislature, but rather sections of ... statutes scattered throughout several titles enacted by numerous, separate legislative acts,’’ he wrote. He said that is grounds for an injunction to keep the measure off the November ballot. LUCHA and other plaintiffs, including the group’s executive director Alejandra Gomez and Assistant Arizona House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos, are not relying on the courts to see it their way. They already are preparing for a fight at the ballot box. “While Republicans believe this will rally their base, I can assure you that a different story will be told on the day after election,’’ said Gomez. “It will be a story of first-time voters casting one of the biggest votes in their lifetime,’’ she said. “It will be the story of Latino voters mobilizing against hate. And it will be a story of abuelitas (grandmothers) voting hand-in-hand with their sobrinos (nephews) and grandchildren.’’ LUCHA already has a political action committee, first set up in 2020, which the lawsuit says will be in a position to take donations and spend money to urge defeat of the ballot measure. Barton is also prepared for future legal challenges if the proposal is approved. He said it runs afoul of another constitutional amendment that there must be a new source of revenues — outside of existing state collections — for any ballot measure that “proposed a mandatory expenditure of state revenues for any purpose.’’ There is no such source here despite reports from legislative budget analysts that there will be costs, including to police agencies enforcing the law and county jails and state prisons tasked with holding those arrested. Barton says the measure also is “preempted by federal law” and “defective.’’ That is the basis on which the U.S. Department of Justice has sued Texas over its approval of SB 4, the model for much of Arizona’s HCR 2060. A federal appeals court has barred enforcement of the Texas law while the case is pending, of which Arizona lawmakers are keenly aware. They included a provision here that does not allow the border-crossing crime to be enforced until at least six months after there is a final ruling in the Texas case. Barton said making the law here conditional on what a federal court says in Texas is itself illegal. He acknowledged, however, that judicial procedures prohibit him from raising those issues unless or until the ballot measure is approved. It is only the allegation of violation of the single-subject rule that can be heard prior to an election. No date has been set for a hearing. Link to original article: https://tucson.com/news/local/border/arizona-republican-controlled-legislature-border-policing-security-ballot-measure-lawsuit-lucha/article_bfe32800-2357-11ef-b677-a7b527ebfd5b.html