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The bill was passed by Republicans, and the veto came on the same day that the Supreme Court agreed to weigh in on a similar law in Texas. By Jack Healy, New York Times Ver mas abajo para leer en español Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona vetoed a bill on Monday that would have authorized the state police to arrest undocumented immigrants. It was the first veto of the year from Ms. Hobbs, a Democrat who shot down a record number of bills passed by Arizona’s Republican-controlled Legislature in 2023 dealing with abortion, elections, L.G.B.T.Q. rights and other hot-button issues. Her veto highlights the election-year tensions over border security as border states and major cities grapple with a record number of migrants crossing the southern border. Ms. Hobbs has expressed frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis, but said the Republican-backed measure was anti-immigrant and most likely unconstitutional. The bill, called the Arizona Border Invasion Act, would have made crossing the border without authorization a misdemeanor state crime, and a felony for migrants who crossed after being deported or ordered to leave. It would also have allowed state law enforcement officials to detain migrants, and Arizona judges to order deportations. Ms. Hobbs said that the measure “does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state and burdensome for law enforcement.” She also said that it potentially violated the U.S. Constitution by claiming what has long been the federal government’s exclusive power to arrest and deport immigrants. The bill echoed a new Texas law — now blocked in court — that has set off a legal confrontation between the Biden administration and Texas officials over whether the state can enforce immigration policy. On Monday, the Supreme Court signaled it would intervene in the battle between Texas and the Biden administration. The Arizona measure, which passed with no Democratic support, is one of several border-focused bills likely to collide with Ms. Hobbs’s veto stamp in the coming weeks. Another bill advancing through the Legislature could expand Arizona’s self-defense laws to allow farmers and ranchers to legally shoot migrants who trespass on their property. Although crossing the border without authorization is already a federal crime, Arizona Republicans argued that their bill was an emergency measure necessary to curb what they called “Joe Biden’s border invasion.” They said that the record influx of migrants from across the world who slip through the border wall or hike through the desert to turn themselves in to Border Patrol had strained law enforcement and border towns and brought violent crime and fentanyl into the state. Some federal officials and Democrats have tried to rebut those assertions, saying that most of the fentanyl stopped from entering the United States is being smuggled by U.S. citizens through legal ports of entry. They also point to federal crime statistics that say border towns in Texas are safer than many nonborder cities. Arizona Republicans on Monday condemned the governor’s veto. State Senator Janae Shamp, a sponsor of the bill, called the veto an example of the “chaos Hobbs is unleashing in our state while perpetuating this open border crisis as Biden’s accomplice.” A Latino advocacy group, Living United for Change in Arizona, called the measure one of the most “extreme and racist anti-immigrant bills” in years. The group said that it echoed Arizona’s “show me your papers” law, a 2010 measure that required state law enforcement to investigate the immigration status of people they suspected of being undocumented. Alejandra Gomez, the group’s executive director, praised Ms. Hobbs for killing the bill, saying it represented a rejection of “racism, hate and just plain bad policy.” Link to original article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/southern-border-migrants-arizona-mexico.html A governadora Katie Hobbs, do Arizona, vetou na segunda-feira um projeto de lei que autorizaria a polícia estadual a prender imigrantes indocumentados. Foi o primeiro veto do ano de Hobbs, uma democrata que derrubou um número recorde de projetos de lei aprovados pelo Legislativo do Arizona, controlado pelos republicanos, em 2023, que tratavam de aborto, eleições, direitos LGBTQ e outras questões polêmicas. O seu veto destaca as tensões do ano eleitoral sobre a segurança das fronteiras, à medida que os estados fronteiriços e as principais cidades enfrentam um número recorde de migrantes que atravessam a fronteira sul. Hobbs expressou frustração com a forma como o governo Biden lidou com a crise fronteiriça, mas disse que a medida apoiada pelos republicanos era anti-imigrante e provavelmente inconstitucional. O projeto de lei, denominado Lei de Invasão da Fronteira do Arizona, teria tornado a travessia da fronteira sem autorização um crime estatal de contravenção e um crime para os migrantes que atravessaram após terem sido deportados ou obrigados a partir. Também teria permitido que as autoridades estaduais detivessem migrantes e que os juízes do Arizona ordenassem deportações. A Sra. Hobbs disse que a medida “não protege a nossa fronteira, será prejudicial para as comunidades e empresas do nosso estado e onerosa para a aplicação da lei”. Ela também disse que isso violava potencialmente a Constituição dos EUA ao reivindicar o que há muito tem sido o poder exclusivo do governo federal para prender e deportar imigrantes. O projeto de lei ecoou uma nova lei do Texas – agora bloqueada no tribunal – que desencadeou um confronto jurídico entre a administração Biden e as autoridades do Texas sobre se o estado pode fazer cumprir a política de imigração. Na segunda-feira, a Suprema Corte sinalizou que interviria na batalha entre o Texas e o governo Biden. A medida do Arizona, que foi aprovada sem apoio democrata, é um dos vários projetos de lei focados nas fronteiras que provavelmente colidirão com o selo de veto de Hobbs nas próximas semanas. Mais um projeto de lei tramitando no Legislativo poderia expandir as leis de autodefesa do Arizona para permitir que agricultores e pecuaristas atirem legalmente em migrantes que invadam suas propriedades. Embora cruzar a fronteira sem autorização já seja um crime federal, os republicanos do Arizona argumentaram que o seu projeto de lei era uma medida de emergência necessária para conter o que chamaram de “invasão da fronteira de Joe Biden”. Eles disseram que o afluxo recorde de migrantes de todo o mundo que atravessam o muro da fronteira ou caminham pelo deserto para se entregar à Patrulha da Fronteira sobrecarregou as autoridades policiais e as cidades fronteiriças e trouxe crimes violentos e fentanil para o estado. Algumas autoridades federais e democratas tentaram refutar essas afirmações, dizendo que a maior parte do fentanil impedido de entrar nos Estados Unidos está sendo contrabandeado por Cidadãos dos EUA através de legal portos de entrada. Eles também apontar para estatísticas federais de crimes que dizem que as cidades fronteiriças do Texas são mais seguras do que muitas cidades não fronteiriças. Os republicanos do Arizona condenaram na segunda-feira o veto do governador. A senadora estadual Janae Shamp, patrocinadora do projeto de lei, chamou o veto de um exemplo do “caos que Hobbs está desencadeando em nosso estado, ao mesmo tempo que perpetua esta crise de fronteira aberta como cúmplice de Biden”. Um grupo de defesa latino, Living United for Change no Arizona, classificou a medida como um dos “projetos de lei anti-imigrantes mais extremistas e racistas” em anos. O grupo disse que ecoou o do Arizona “mostre-me seus papéis” lei, uma medida de 2010 que exigia que as autoridades estaduais investigassem o status de imigração de pessoas suspeitas de serem indocumentadas. Alejandra Gomez, a diretora executiva do grupo, elogiou a Sra. Hobbs por anular o projeto de lei, dizendo que representava uma rejeição ao “racismo, ao ódio e simplesmente às más políticas”.

As Republican lawmakers push a ballot measure, they fast-tracked a controversial immigration bill to Gov. Katie Hobbs. By TJ L'Heureux, Phoenix New Times It’s déjà vu for Latino business leaders, who warn that a controversial new effort by Republicans to target undocumented immigrants would weaken Arizona’s economy — just as an infamous 2010 “show me your papers” law brought an economic blow and national shame to the state. Republicans in the Arizona State Legislature have been working to put a measure on the November ballot that would require local governments to check a person’s immigration status before they could access public health care, housing assistance or employment programs. House Concurrent Resolution 2060 is being guided through the Capitol’s chambers by House Speaker Ben Toma, the powerful Republican lawmaker running for a Valley congressional seat in a crowded, difficult race. It awaits a vote in the Senate after the House approved the bill on Feb. 22 in a 31-28 vote. If voters approve it in November, undocumented immigrants will be barred from obtaining many taxpayer-funded social benefits, starting in 2026. Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a registered Republican, predicted that the bill would weaken economic growth. “Bad policies like these do not strengthen Arizona law. Instead, it restricts the ability of Arizona businesses to thrive, especially when we have a workforce shortage,” Villalobos said during a press conference Monday. Toma, during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Feb. 19, said the bill is designed to make sure “Arizona taxpayers do not bear the financial burden of paying for the federal government’s failure to control illegal immigration at the border." But the irony is that undocumented immigrants are Arizona taxpayers. The nonpartisan American Immigration Council found that, in 2021, undocumented immigrants in Arizona paid $647.9 million in state, local and federal taxes. The bill would also require contract workers who are paid more than $600 a year to be cleared for employment through E-Verify, the system provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, which Villalobos said would create "burdensome red tape for all involved as we experience labor shortages." While escalating the GOP's war on immigrants without permanent legal status, the measure would do nothing to step up border enforcement. Republicans also are pushing two bills likely to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. House Bill 2821 and Senate Bill 1231 empower local law enforcement to enforce immigration policies, a responsibility that has long been reserved for the federal government. The House passed HB 2821 on Feb. 22; it now awaits action in the Senate. SB 1231 passed the Senate on Feb. 21. On Wednesday, the House suspended its rules and passed the bill 31-28, sending it to Hobbs. “Every Arizonan is frustrated by the federal government’s failure to secure our border," Hobbs said in a Monday statement. "But passing job-killing, anti-business bills that demonize our communities is not the solution. Instead of securing our border, these bills will simply raise costs, hurt our farmers, put Arizona entrepreneurs out of business and destroy jobs for countless working-class Arizonans.” The controversial immigration bills come as Republicans in Washington, D.C., have rejected a bipartisan Senate bill that would provide $20 billion in funding for the border. The bill died after former President Donald Trump asked Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to kill it so President Joe Biden wouldn’t look strong on border enforcement. Hobbs said Toma’s bill was “meant to score political points.” Show me your papers, one more time The recent bills have suddenly resurrected the story of SB 1070, a 2010 law that became synonymous with racial hatred of immigrants, made Arizona a laughingstock, sparked boycotts, led to heightened racial profiling, set off a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against the state, stirred fear in Latino communities and unintentionally birthed a progressive grassroots movement that helped elect Democratic politicians statewide. The bill’s sponsor, Russell Pearce, earned the “Best Death of a Racist” award in 2023 from Phoenix New Times. It’s difficult to estimate the total economic impact the law had or track how many people and businesses decided to boycott the state. A 2010 study reported that Arizona’s economy lost at least $434 million in direct spending from conference cancellations in the first year alone. Libertarian think tank Cato Institute argued in 2012 that the law “caused significant economic harm.” “States bear much of the cost of unauthorized immigration, but in Arizona’s rush to find a state solution, it damaged its own economy,” the Cato report said. It also made note of the law’s negative impact on the labor market, which hindered Arizona construction and farming. Villalobos criticized the new Toma immigration bill as anti-business. “This is a huge departure from the basic tenets of the Republican Party, which is business first and being able to secure a safe business environment that can thrive,” Villalobos told New Times. “It’s completely antithetical to the party’s position historically.” ‘This is a great battle ahead’ Most Democrats see the bill as a weak political offering to the Republican Party's anti-immigrant base. “I think this shows that our Republican colleagues are desperate to maintain power,” state Sen. Anna Hernandez, a Phoenix Democrat, told New Times. “But also, how fiscally irresponsible is something like this? For a party that preaches fiscal smartness, I think this is another example that they are not in tune with what being fiscally responsible for the entire state means.” Several Latino business owners spoke at the Monday press conference, highlighting the fact that small businesses are the backbone of America and agreeing that the law would have a negative impact. “For many years, Arizona had to navigate away from the dark days of SB 1070,” Villalobos said. “Painstakingly, Arizona has repaired its image as open for business.” Living United for Change in Arizona, a political organization known colloquially as LUCHA, was created in the aftermath of SB 1070. It now sees itself as poised for a second battle over policies that bring harm to vulnerable community members in the name of fixing the immigration crisis. LUCHA’s existence also is illustrative of the larger political organizing machine that was created after SB 1070. About half of the members of the Democrats’ caucus are Latino, and several of them cite SB 1070 as the moment they wanted to get involved in politics. With Democrats knocking on the door of majority control in both legislative chambers come November, the post-SB 1070 organizing machine may be able to capitalize on the controversial law as evidence for the need to vote. Alejandra Gomez, executive director of LUCHA, said at the press conference that she was "deeply saddened" to watch the state relive the mistakes of SB 1070. "I was here for the pain and the aftermath of our economy, of what the devastation was to our families," Gomez added. "But we are not the Arizona of 2010. This coalition is a powerful coalition." Joe Garcia, executive director of community advocacy nonprofit Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund, said he's ready for the fight. “This is a great battle ahead. We are hoping we can stop it before it becomes a war,” Garcia said. “A war not only on the Latino community and vulnerable populations, but also a war on Arizona’s economy." Link to original article: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/republican-hispanic-leader-denounces-arizona-gops-immigration-bill-18354483

On Wednesday, the Arizona legislature passed a bill that would make it a state crime to enter the country unauthorized. By Danyelle Kharma, Arizona Public Media Senate Bill 1231 would allow state and local law enforcement to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border and would allow Arizona judges to issue orders of deportation. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona, a pro-immigrant organization compared the partisan bill to SB1070, a controversial 2010 law that the Supreme Court partially struck down. “What we saw in 2010 was police officers acting as immigration agents,” Gomez said. “We saw entire neighborhoods completely cleared out because people were so fearful that they were going to be separated from their family. And so this is not the Arizona that we are.” The bill would allow the state to charge people with a misdemeanor for entering the country unauthorized, for which they could face up to 6 months in jail or a felony and up to 2 years for repeat violations. Governor Katie Hobbs has said she will veto the bill, calling it an anti-immigrant measure and, along with other partisan bills in the legislature, said it could cost the state hundreds of millions in investment. Link to original article: https://www.azpm.org/p/headlines/2024/2/28/219261-arizona-lawmakers-pass-bill-some-compare-to-controversial-sb-1070/

La Cámara de Representantes de la Legislatura de Arizona aprobó el miércoles por la tarde el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1231, luego que legisladores republicanos la avanzaron sin permitir su paso usual por comités, llegando de inmediato al pleno de la Cámara para un voto determinante. Por Silvia Solis, La Voz La propuesta clasificaría como delito estatal el cruce de indocumentados por la frontera en Arizona y permitiría a agentes y jueces locales aplicar la ley migratoria federal. Introducida por la senadora republicana Janae Shamp de la mano de otras dos propuestas en la Casa, la HB 2748 y la HB 2821, la propuesta se trata de una acción conjunta de los republicanos en la Legislatura estatal ante el aumento de encuentros con migrantes en la frontera sur de EEUU. Mientras que las propuestas de la Casa esperan aprobación en el Senado, la SB 1231 pasa directamente a la oficina de la gobernadora de Arizona Katie Hobbs para ser aprobada o derrocada. En un comunicado emitido el lunes, Hobbs denunció las propuestas republicanas en curso en la Legislatura. "Aprobar proyectos de ley que destruyen empleos y contra las empresas y que demonizan a nuestras comunidades no es la solución", indicó Hobbs. "En lugar de asegurar nuestra frontera, estos proyectos de ley simplemente aumentarán los costos, perjudicarán a nuestros agricultores, pondrán en peligroa empresarios de Arizona y destruirán empleos para innumerables trabajadores arizonenses". Pese a la fuerte oposición por parte de líderes y empresarios comunitarios y legisladores demócratas, Shamp ha defendido su propuesta, denominada la "Ley de Invasión de Arizona", ante comités y el pleno del Senado argumentando la necesidad de tomar medidas a nivel estatal para proteger la frontera dada la inacción de congresistas en Washington D.C. y la administración del presidente Joe Biden. “Esto no se trata de inmigración, se trata de proteger a nuestro estado,” dijo Shamp durante su declaración ante un comité del Senado en febrero, pese a hacer mención en varias instancias sobre el alto flujo de migración ilegal. Recalco que la propuesta, de convertirse en ley, proporcionaría herramientas a policías locales para tomar medidas. Datos de la oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos indican que agentes fronterizos tuvieron más de 302,000 encuentros durante el mes de diciembre de 2023, incluyendo detenciones y expulsiones, marcando un nuevo récord. Esta oleada migratoria incitó el cierre del puerto de entrada de Lukeville a finales del año pasado por más de un mes, situación que ha contribuido al discurso político en temas migratorios en otros estados fronterizos y a nivel federal. ¿Qué es la SB 1231? Dos proyectos de ley identicos, SB 1231 y HB 2821, en las cámaras del Senado y de Representantes buscan clasificar el cruce de personas sin documentación por la frontera de Arizona como un delito estatal. Otra propuesta legislativa similar, la HB 2748, haría lo mismo. La versión propuesta por miembros del Senado se ha nombrado como la "Ley de Invasión de Arizona". Las propuestas se han promovido por legisladores republicanos en ambas cámaras, incluyendo sus proponentes, los senadores republicanos Shamp del Distrito 29 y David Gowan del Distrito 14, el representante republicano Steve Montenegro y el representante republicano Joseph Chaplik, respectivamente. Los proyectos, de ser convertidos en ley, también ofrecerían protecciones a los agentes que participen en la detención y arresto de inmigrantes, incluyendo inmunidad civil y derecho a indemnización por incidentes ocurridos durante el cumplimiento de la ley como parte de sus funciones oficiales. Además, impactarían a beneficiarios de programas de acción diferida y de asilo político —a excepción de DACA- que no hayan sido aprobadas por el Congreso de EEUU. La HB 2748 contiene una enmienda que ordena al Fiscal General a que recupere cualquier suma de dinero adeudada por el gobierno federal relacionada con los costos incurridos por Arizona para mitigar la inmigración ilegal. Fuerte oposición al paquete 'SB 1070 2.0' Quienes se oponen a estos proyectos de ley han dicho que marcarían un regreso a la SB 1070 de Arizona firmada en 2010, la ley antiinmigrante más extensa y estricta de Estados Unidos en ese momento. La ley exigía que los inmigrantes mayores de edad llevaran consigo sus documentos de estatus migratorio en todo momento y permitía la aprehensión y arresto por parte de agentes locales si había sospechas de su ilegalidad en el país. Otra medida, la resolución concurrente de la Cása de Representantes 2060, ordenaría al Secretario de Estado presentar una propuesta electoral a los votantes de Arizona relacionada con el empleo y el uso del programa E-Verify. Este proyecto de ley fue introducido por el representante republicano Ben Toma ante la Cámara de Representates el 14 de febrero. La propuesta electoral, que sería parte de las próximas elecciones generales, buscaría la aprobación del electorado para requerir que municipios y condados que reciben dinero estatal para programas de bienestar público utilicen el programa E-Verify para verificar que los destinatarios adultos estén legalmente presentes en los Estados Unidos. Las resoluciones concurrentes son consideradas por miembros del Senado y de la Cámara de Representantes al mismo tiempo y no requieren la firma del gobernador para pasar al electorado. En una carta emitida el viernes a la Legislatura y a la Oficina de la Gobernadora, numerosos líderes empresariales, religiosos y comunitarios de Arizona se declararon en contra de las propuestas, diciendo que "amenazarían la seguridad pública de todos los arizonenses y debilitaría la economía". "Los inmigrantes son vitales para la economía de Arizona. Los inmigrantes constituyen aproximadamente una sexta parte de la fuerza laboral de Arizona, que desempeña un papel vital en el impulso de la economía local a través de diversos medios", lee la carta. Debido al paso acelerado de la SB 1231 por la Casa de Representantes, lo cual prohibió el comentario público durante sesiones en comités, varias organizaciones comunitarias, expresaron su descontento, apuntando hacia la falta de respeto al proceso democrático. "Hoy somos testigos del ejemplo flagrante de esta tiranía a medida que el liderazgo republicano en la Casa evita la opinión pública, silenciando a arizonenses en el proceso legislativo", decretó Alejandra Gómez, directora ejecutiva de Living United for Change en Arizona (LUCHA), en un comunicado. "En lugar de abandonar su legislación repleta de odio, tras el rechazo público", intentan imponer su agenda legislativa ante familias de Arizona. Legisladores demócratas en ambas cámaras denunciaron los proyectos, criticando fuertemente la agenda republicana que va en contra de "valores arizonenses". “Estoy muy orgullosos de trabajar con otros legisladores aquí que forman parte de la generación 1070,” dijo la representante demócrata, Lorena Austin, al explicar su voto en contra. “Fuimos a la escuela, nos involucramos, nos educamos y ahora estamos aquí, y no nos iremos a ninguna parte porque estamos aquí para proteger los derechos de todos los habitantes de Arizona y de todos los que viven aquí. Y apreciamos a todas nuestras comunidades.” Tanto Austin como otros representates que votaron en contra de HCR 2060 describieron escenas de sus experiencias durante la época de la ley “muéstreme sus papeles,” destacando la desconfianza que este tipo de leyes siembran en contra de comunidades de color sin importar el estatus migratorio. “Podemos ver el año 2024 y podemos hacer comparaciones con hace 14 años, pero la realidad es que los tiempos son diferentes. Los votantes en Arizona han hablado. Dijeron que este tipo de retórica, este tipo de (mensajes) no benefician a Arizona, esto ya no es lo que somos,” dijo representante demócrata Marcelino Quiñonez, haciendo hincapié en el hecho de que esta, a diferencia de las otras propuestas antiinmigrantes haciendo su recorrido por la legislatura, no pasaría por la Oficina del Gobernador si no iría directo a los votantes de ser aprobada. Enlace original: https://www.azcentral.com/story/noticias/2024/02/29/republicanos-de-arizona-aprueban-sb-1231-que-saber/72779348007/

February 28, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOENIX - Earlier today, Republican leadership in the House made a special motion to compel SB1231 state crime; illegal border crossings to the floor immediately for a floor reading and vote, in an attempt to put this bill on the Governor’s desk today. Because of this, Republicans in the House unanimously silenced and side-stepped Arizonans from providing key input and testimony for SB1231, as is the normal course for legislation. SB1231 passing out of the House on party lines comes on the heels of mounting pressure from the public and business leaders against racist SB1070 2.0 legislation (SB1231/HB2821/HB2748), which will be catastrophic for Arizona’s economy, disgrace our state, and lead to widespread racial profiling of Arizonans of color. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona said in a statement: “In a democracy, we allow the public to weigh in and guide our policy-making. Silencing the public and constituents has become as fundamental to the Republican Party’s approach to governing as their hateful policy agenda. Today, we are witnessing a blatant example of this tyranny as Republican leadership in the House circumvents public opinion, silencing Arizonans in the legislative process. This is the shameful behavior of tyrants, not public servants. Rather than abandoning their hate-filled legislation, following the public’s rejection of SB1231/HB2748 and similar SB1070 2.0 legislation, they are attempting to shove their legislative agenda down the throats of Arizona’s families. This is not the leadership our state deserves, and further proves that this policy package does not represent Arizona’s people.”

Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria, Speaker of the Arizona House, has introduced legislation with hopes to curtail illegal immigration and save Arizonans big in welfare benefits but a coalition of business leaders and Democratic lawmakers are speaking out, saying it will hurt the state economy. By Alex Gonzales, Public News Service Businesses in the state already use the federal E-Verify program to check the immigration status of potential and current employees. If referred to the ballot in November, House Concurrent Resolution 2060 would expand verification regulations for businesses to check the status of independent subcontractors and make it harder for migrants to access public benefits. Alejandra Gomez, executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona, said the proposed law has parallels with Senate Bill 1070, a controversial immigration law passed in 2010 which she argued led to racial profiling. "We are not the Arizona of 2010," Gomez asserted. "We are the Arizona of 2024, and this coalition is a powerful coalition and we will not stand for the division and for the hate." Toma argues action has to be taken to address the influx of illegal crossings into Arizona. Immigration activists say they are prepared to battle it out at the ballot box if the Arizona GOP manages to successfully put the measure on the ballot. Voters could have the final say, as Republicans can bypass Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who cannot weigh in on the ballot referral. José Rivera, owner of the Tres Leches Café in Phoenix, contends the Latino community is under attack. Rivera said as a first-generation Mexican American business owner, he is "deeply troubled" by the proposed legislation. "This bill threatens not only to impose crippling fines on businesses but also sends a chilling message to the immigrant entrepreneurs like myself and immigrant workers that we are not welcome," Rivera stressed. Rivera emphasized initiatives like the new bill will continue to criminalize and marginalize immigrant communities and stifle the entrepreneurial spirit he said defines the American dream. Link to original article: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2024-02-28/immigration/az-leaders-and-businesses-speak-out-against-immigration-proposal/a89111-1#

Gov. Katie Hobbs has already denounced the bill, guaranteeing it will be vetoed. By Gloria Rebecca Gomez, AZ Mirror Capitalizing on an election-year focus on immigration, GOP lawmakers rammed through a bill on Wednesday that would give Arizona police officers the power to arrest migrants and Arizona judges the authority to deport them — in blatant violation of federal law. “When the federal government refuses to do its job and protect its citizens from foreign invasion, from lawlessness at our border, then we reserve the right as states to step in and protect our people,” said Rep. Steve Montenegro. The Republican from Goodyear used a procedural move to suspend legislative rules in the state House of Representatives and force a final vote on Senate Bill 1231, effectively priming it to skip public hearings in the lower chamber and be sent directly to the governor’s desk, where a veto is guaranteed. Democrats denounced the decision to truncate the legislative process and expressed vehement opposition to the measure, warning that it would only result in widespread racial profiling. Dubbed the “Arizona Border Invasion Act,” the bill makes it a crime to cross the state’s southern border anywhere but the ports of entry. Migrants facing a first offense under the act could be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor that could lead to a six-month jail sentence, unless they agree to return to Mexico voluntarily. Decision-making for who to detain and investigate is left entirely up to law enforcement officials. The proposal is a priority for the Republican Party this session, which backed three near-identical versions in both chambers. Montenegro, who sponsored the House version of the legislation, justified the decision to preempt public input on the Senate iteration that was strong-armed through on Wednesday by saying that its mirrors have undergone sufficient discussion. Critics of the trio of proposals, including immigrant rights groups and dozens of local businesses, have slammed the package as “SB1070 2.0”. Rep. Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix, said the bill was a clear repetition of SB1070, the state’s infamous “show me your papers law” from 2010, and would return Arizona to the notoriety that it had worked to get beyond. She added that the state has no authority to enforce immigration law, and the bill would only serve to harm Arizonans. “It is not the state’s place to enforce federal immigration law,” she said. “When we do that, we subject entire communities to terror, to racial profiling and to harassment.” The courts have repeatedly concluded that enforcing immigration law is under the sole purview of the federal government. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down three of four provisions in SB1070, declaring them illegal infringements of federal authority. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Justice challenged the Texas law that the Arizona Border Invasion Act is modeled after, arguing that it is unconstitutional. But with the 2024 election fast approaching and immigration emerging as the top voter concern, Republicans across the country have embraced harsh border security policies. Rep. Tim Dunn, a Republican who represents Yuma, one of the state’s two border sectors that has seen a dramatic increase in migrants and asylum seekers in recent years, lauded the act as a much-needed safeguard. “We have a catastrophe on our border and we need to send a signal that says we are not going to stand for an assault on our border,” he said. “This is that signal. This is not moving back, this is not an attack on a particular race.” The proposal passed with a 31-28 vote on Wednesday, with only Republicans in favor. Despite garnering a majority vote in both legislative chambers, which are controlled by Republicans, the act is headed straight for a veto. Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this week released a statement dismissing the bill, its mirrors and a GOP-led ballot referral enacting harsh penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers. The Democrat called for increased funding for border communities and law enforcement officials instead of criminalization. “The answer to securing the border is more resources for border patrol and law enforcement in these communities, not job killing, anti-immigrant legislation meant to score cheap political points,” she wrote. Latino advocacy organizations criticized the rushed legislative process and denounced its anti-immigrant sentiment. Monica Villalobos, CEO and president of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, sounded the alarm over the economic impact the act would have on the state. “We are opposed to any legislation that may re-introduce SB1070 consequences, disrupt business operations, hamstring workforce advancement, and tarnish our state brand once again,” she said. “Immigrants in Arizona have a spending power of $26.4 billion and have paid more than $8.7 billion in taxes regardless of legal status. And immigrant entrepreneurs contribute more than $2.2B in business income.” Alejandra Gomez, the executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona, a pro-immigrant group that has been at the forefront of public criticism against the bill, called the procedural move anti-democratic. “Silencing the public and constituents has become as fundamental to the Republican Party’s approach to governing as their hateful policy agenda,” she said, in a written statement. “This is not the leadership our state deserves, and further proves that this policy package does not represent Arizona’s people.” Link to original article: https://azmirror.com/2024/02/28/skipping-public-hearings-republicans-rammed-through-a-bill-to-enforce-federal-immigration-law/

Republican legislators passed an anti-immigration bill at breakneck speed Wednesday, cutting out public comment and silencing opposition from other members of the legislature. By Camaron Stevenson, The Copper Courier Republican legislators passed an anti-immigration bill at breakneck speed Wednesday, cutting out public comment and silencing opposition from other members of the legislature. Senate Bill 1231 advanced through both chambers of the Arizona legislature in less than a month. The proposal, which would give local law enforcement authority to detain and arrest immigrants with blanket immunity, was subjected to only one public committee meeting. Typically, bills are assigned to several committees in both the Senate and the House, where members of the public are given time to voice their support or opposition to the bill being discussed. Reducing the number of public hearings a bill is assigned to severely limits the public’s ability to voice their concerns on proposed legislation. “In a democracy, we allow the public to weigh in and guide our policy-making,” Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona, said in a statement. “Silencing the public and constituents has become as fundamental to the Republican Party’s approach to governing as their hateful policy agenda.” Legislators were also cut out of the legislative process. In both the Senate and the House, Republican leadership ignored the rules to limit how many lawmakers could speak on a bill. According to the rules of the legislature, “every member shall have the privilege of explaining his vote,” but for SB 1231, Republicans limited it to four speakers: two for the bill, and two against. And, while it’s required that any suspension of rules be voted on by the entire chamber, there was no vote to strip legislators of their privilege to explain their vote. “I have not seen this before. The fact that we suspended rules and suspended who could speak for and against SB 1231 is disappointing,” Rep. Cesar Aguilar, D-Phoenix, told The Copper Courier. “When we heard HCR 2060 [House Concurrent Resolution 2060] at the Arizona House of Representatives, we had to open up two additional rooms for community overflow. Republicans want to push people out from getting involved and community input. This is anti-democratic.” Bills are also required to be discussed in the Rules Committee, where attorneys who work at the capitol go over the legality and constitutionality of proposed legislation. But House Republicans skirted this requirement as well, this time going to the effort to vote to suspend this rule—along with all rules surrounding how bills are debated. SB 1231 was voted on in the Senate Rules Committee, but the meeting was closed to the public, and there is no recording of the Feb. 12 committee meeting. The decision to cut out public input comes days after more than 100 business and community leaders published a letter in opposition to three anti-immigration proposals: SB 1231, House Bill 2748, and House Concurrent Resolution 2060. “These proposals will deputize local police and other officials to verify the immigration status of immigrants, and arrest and detain otherwise law-abiding immigrant workers as they drive to work, church, and their children to school. They will generate fear and erode trust between immigrants and local police,” the letter states. “We need real solutions to our broken immigration system, not election-year scapegoating.” While HCR 2060 and HB 2748 have yet to be debated in the state Senate, SB 1231 has passed in both chambers and will now be sent to Gov. Katie Hobbs. Hobbs has spoken out against all three bills, calling them “political stunts,” and her office has stated she will not sign them into law. Link to original article: https://coppercourier.com/2024/02/28/republicans-immigration-anti-democratic-legislature/

Por Dyana Villa, Univision Arizona

Empresarios y defensores se reunieron para protestar contra la propuesta de ley HCR 2060 del representante Ben Toma, que exigiría una prueba de ciudadanía para trabajar o recibir asistencia pública. Por Oscar Ramos, Prensa AZ El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Ben Toma, dice que su último proyecto de ley de inmigración podría ahorrarle a Arizona miles de millones en beneficios sociales anualmente, pero los propietarios de pequeñas empresas se manifestaron el lunes para decir que, en cambio, le costará al estado, al expulsar a empresas y trabajadores. Los dueños de negocios, respaldados por defensores y legisladores demócratas, dijeron que la HCR 2060, que requeriría prueba de ciudadanía para trabajar o recibir asistencia pública, terminará perjudicando la economía del estado y renovando el miedo entre los latinos en Arizona. “HCR 2060 impulsará la inversión económica fuera de nuestro estado. Infundirá miedo en los latinos y afroamericanos”, dijo José “ET” Rivera, propietario de Tres Leches Café en Phoenix. “Como empresario mexicano-estadounidense de primera generación, estoy profundamente preocupado. No somos bienvenidos”. ¿Por qué se compara el nuevo proyecto de ley de Arizona con la infame SB 1070?Rivera fue sólo uno de los oradores en la manifestación organizada por el senador Flavio Bravo, demócrata por Phoenix, para oponerse a la propuesta de Toma, uno de un paquete de proyectos de ley en la Legislatura que los críticos se burlan de un “SB 1070 2.0”, una referencia a la la controvertida ley estatal “muéstrame tus papeles” de 2010. “Estuve aquí para esa lucha”, dijo Alejandra Gómez, directora ejecutiva de Living United for Change en Arizona, o LUCHA, refiriéndose a los días de la SB 1070. “Estuve aquí para la separación de nuestras familias. Estuve aquí por el dolor y las consecuencias de nuestra economía y nuestros vecindarios… no volveremos a esa división, a ese odio”. Toma no respondió a las solicitudes de comentarios sobre la manifestación del lunes. Pero en declaraciones la semana pasada, el republicano de Glendale dijo que su propuesta es necesaria para responder a lo que llamó una “invasión” en la frontera sur ante la cual el gobernador y el gobierno federal “no están haciendo nada”. “Quizás no seamos capaces de hacer el trabajo del gobierno federal, pero podemos evitar que Arizona se vuelva como California”, dijo Toma entonces. «Nuestro mensaje a los inmigrantes ilegales es simple: si quieren aprovecharse de los estadounidenses, vayan a otro lado». Calificó su propuesta como “una de las leyes más estrictas jamás escritas sobre inmigración ilegal”. Requeriría que las empresas y los gobiernos locales verifiquen el estatus de ciudadanía de cualquier persona que busque trabajo o asistencia pública. También “constituiría un delito grave ayudar a sabiendas a un extranjero ilegal a violar nuestras leyes laborales”, dijo Toma. ¿Qué piensa la gobernadora Katie Hobbs sobre los proyectos de ley de inmigración?La gobernadora Katie Hobbs se pronunció el lunes en contra de la HCR 2060 y otros proyectos de ley de inmigración, a los que calificó de “legislación antiinmigrante que elimina empleos y que pretende ganar puntos políticos baratos”. Pero tal vez no pueda detenerlo: a diferencia de la mayoría de los proyectos de ley, la resolución de Toma pasaría por alto al gobernador y llegaría directamente a los votantes como una iniciativa electoral este otoño, en lo que Hobbs llamó un “intento desesperado y partidista de eludir el proceso legislativo”. Pero Heritage Action for America defendió el plan de Toma, diciendo en un comunicado la semana pasada que la resolución protege a los arizonenses de la “priorización” de los inmigrantes ilegales por parte del gobierno federal. «HCR 2060 protege a los trabajadores estadounidenses a través del programa de sentido común E-Verify y detiene el flujo de inmigrantes ilegales al quitarles un imán importante para aquellos que cruzan la frontera», dice la declaración del grupo. La propuesta de Toma fue aprobada en la Cámara el jueves con una votación de 31 a 28 y ahora debe ser aprobada en el Senado. ¿Por qué los opositores están rechazando la HCR 2060?Joseph García, director ejecutivo del Fondo de Acción Chicanos por la Causa, dijo que espera que el proyecto de ley no sea aprobado en el Senado, pero que la manifestación del lunes fue necesaria para educar a los nuevos votantes en Arizona que no vivieron la SB 1070. “Sabemos que la reputación de Arizona con la SB 1070 se internacionalizó de mala, muy mala manera. Así que se trata de poner al día a los votantes hoy para que no volvamos a los días oscuros de antaño”, dijo García. La SB 1070 permitió a las autoridades exigir el estatus migratorio de cualquier persona que arrestaran, una ley que, según los críticos, fue rápidamente abusada por la policía y la utilizó como excusa para acosar a las comunidades minoritarias. La mayor parte de la ley fue revocada por la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos en 2012, que dijo que infringía la autoridad federal. García dijo que los republicanos están utilizando la inmigración como una “cuestión de cuña” en un año electoral, una posición de la que se hizo eco Mónica Villalobos, presidenta de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Arizona. “Es una política perezosa convertir a los inmigrantes en chivos expiatorios para ser elegidos. Especialmente este tipo de legislación que ya ha sido denunciada por los tribunales”, dijo Villalobos el lunes. Dijo que es una postura preocupante para el Partido Republicano, que se presenta como partidario de las pequeñas empresas. “No dejé el Partido Republicano. El Partido Republicano me dejó”, dijo Villalobos. “(La SB 1070) no sólo daña la imagen de nuestro estado sino también nuestra economía estatal. Desgarró a las familias y, en lugar de que los republicanos apoyen a las pequeñas empresas, están imponiendo políticas paralizantes”. Enlace original: https://prensaarizona.com/protestan-contra-e-verify/

Small business owners and advocacy groups say this bill would instill fear in minority communities and has echoes of SB 1070, Arizona's controversial "show me your papers" law from 2010. Critics argue that immigration is being used as a wedge issue by Republicans in an election year and that similar legislation has already been struck down in courts. By Martin Dreyfuss, Denzen Cortez, Cronkite News PHOENIX – House Speaker Ben Toma says his latest immigration bill could save Arizona billions in welfare benefits annually, but small-business owners rallied Monday to say it will cost the state instead, by driving out businesses and workers. The business owners, backed by advocates and Democratic lawmakers, said HCR 2060 – which would require proof of citizenship to work or to receive any public assistance – will wind up hurting the state’s economy while renewing fear among Latinos in Arizona. “HCR 2060 will drive economic investment out of our state. It will instill fear in Black and brown races,” said Jose “ET” Rivera, the owner of Tres Leches Cafe in Phoenix. “As a first-generation Mexican-American business owner, I am deeply troubled. We are not welcome.” Rivera was just one of the speakers at the rally organized by Sen. Flavio Bravo, D-Phoenix, to oppose Toma’s proposal, one of a package of bills in the Legislature that critics are deriding a “SB 1070 2.0” – a reference to the state’s controversial “show me your papers law” from 2010. “I was here for that fight,” said Alejandra Gomez, executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, talking about the days of SB 1070. “I was here for the separation of our families. I was here for the pain and the aftermath of our economy and our neighborhoods … we will not go back to that division, to that hate.” Toma did not respond to requests for comment on Monday’s rally. But in remarks last week, the Glendale Republican said his proposal is needed to respond to what he called an “invasion” at the southern border that the governor and federal government “are doing nothing about.” “We may not be able to do the federal government’s job, but we can stop Arizona from becoming like California,” Toma said then. “Our message to illegal immigrants is simple: If you want to take advantage of Americans, go somewhere else.” He called his proposal “one of the toughest laws on illegal immigration ever written.” It would require that businesses and local governments verify the citizenship status of anyone seeking a job or public assistance. It would also “make it a felony to knowingly assist an illegal alien in breaking our employment laws,” Toma said. Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday came out against HCR 2060 and other immigration bills, which she called “job-killing, anti-immigrant legislation meant to score cheap political points.” But she may not be able to stop it: Unlike most bills, Toma’s resolution would bypass the governor and go directly to voters as a ballot initiative this fall, in what Hobbs called a “desperate, partisan attempt to circumvent the legislative process.” But Heritage Action for America defended Toma’s plan, saying in a statement last week that the resolution protects Arizonans from the federal government’s “prioritization” of illegal immigrants. “HCR 2060 protects American workers through the commonsense E-Verify program and stems the flow of illegal immigrants by taking away a major magnet for those flooding across the border,” the group’s statement said. Toma’s proposal passed the House Thursday on a 31-28 party-line vote and must now get through the Senate. Joseph Garcia, executive director of Chicanos por la Causa Action Fund, said he hopes the bill does not get through the Senate, but that Monday’s rally was needed to educate new voters in Arizona who did not live through SB 1070. “We know the reputation of Arizona with SB 1070 went international in a bad, bad way. So it is about bringing voters up to speed today so we don’t go back to the dark days of yesteryear,” Garcia said. SB 1070 allowed authorities to demand the immigration status of anyone they arrested, a law that critics said was quickly abused by police who used it as an excuse to harass minority communities. Most of the law was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, which said it infringed on federal authority. Garcia said that immigration is being used as a “wedge issue” by Republicans in an election year, a position echoed by Monica Villalobos, president of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “It is lazy politics to scapegoat immigrants to get elected. Especially this kind of legislation that has already been denounced by the courts,” Villalobos said Monday. She said it is a troubling stand for the Republican Party, which frames itself as supportive of small business. “I did not leave the Republican Party. The Republican Party left me,” Villalobos said. “It (SB 1070) not only hurt our state image but our state economy. It tore families apart, and instead of Republicans supporting small businesses, they are enforcing crippling policies.” Link to original article: https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/02/26/business-owners-challenge-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/ Also picked up by: https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2024/02/26/business-owners-challenge-e-verify-bill.html https://ktar.com/story/5564510/arizona-business-owners-rally-against-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/ https://www.myheraldreview.com/news/state/business-owners-challenge-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/article_a1b81bf2-d590-11ee-ad4b-4723398aa0ad.html https://tucson.com/news/local/business/employment/arizona-immigration-business-politics-economy-legislature/article_d97c974c-d59b-11ee-b3ca-fb9b0e2c55aa.html https://azbigmedia.com/business/business-owners-challenge-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/ https://www.myheraldreview.com/news/state/business-owners-challenge-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/article_a1b81bf2-d590-11ee-ad4b-4723398aa0ad.html https://reportwire.org/arizona-business-owners-challenge-bill-requiring-e-verify-checks-for-jobs-benefits/

HCR2060 would create fines of up to $1,000 against businesses that employ undocumented immigrants. By Joe Duhownik, Courthouse News Service PHOENIX (CN) — Local business owners and activists gathered at the Arizona Capitol building Monday to denounce a proposed immigration-related ballot measure they compare to Arizona’s infamous Senate Bill 1070. House Concurrent Resolution 2060, which passed the House last week with only Republican support, would if passed by voters require business owners to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of all of their employees, and would fine them up to $1,000 for every employee who is in the United States illegally. It also requires government municipalities to confirm the citizenship of any person receiving welfare or financial aid. “This bill threatens not only to impose crippling fines on businesses, but also sends a chilling message to immigrant entrepreneurs like myself, and immigrant workers, that we’re not welcome,” Jose Rivera, owner of Tres Leches Cafe in Phoenix, said to nearly two dozen reporters behind Arizona’s Capitol building Monday afternoon. “We’re more than just a coffee shop. We’re a staple in the community.” Aureliano Dominguez, owner of El Caprichoso Hot Dogs in the Phoenix Valley, said the legislators responsible for the resolution “don’t see or don’t care about our communities.” “Small businesses are part of this country,” he said. Dozens of Democrat lawmakers stood behind him and other activists as they took turns at the podium. Opponents of the resolution say it will hurt Arizona’s economy by making it harder for small businesses to find employees and by discouraging immigrants to come to the state. SB1070, sometimes known as the “show me your papers” law, enacted in 2010, required: Police to investigate the legal status of those they suspect to be undocumented during legal stops The arrest of people without warrants if officers suspect them of being undocumented All immigrants to carry federal registration papers on them at all times Criminal charges for immigrants who seek or accept work without authorization The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the last three provisions in 2012, upholding the first. Critics of that bill, which sparked international controversy and inspired boycotts and travel bans, said it encouraged racial profiling. Studies found that businesses across the state lost up to $141 million in revenue and nearly 3,000 jobs in the three years that the majority of the bill stayed on the books. But on a large scale, it seemed to have a minimal economic effect on the state. Joe Garcia, executive director of Chicanos Por La Causa, said those are only the effects that could be documented. “There’s no way to know how many other businesses and how many people decided not to come to Arizona,” he said. “We know the reputation of Arizona and SB1070. We don’t want to go back to yesteryear.” Garcia called the resolution and other “anti-immigration” bills in the Legislature a war on Arizona businesses and its economy, and on “all improvement we’ve made since SB1070, simply because of some backward ideology.” He acknowledged the border crisis and said work must be done to fix it. But he added: “You don’t punish people for broken policies. You don’t punish people for strengthening our economy.” He suggested that Arizona’s voice on immigration policy should be at the federal level, asking why the U.S. Senate refused to hear a bipartisan solution that came out of the House this month. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, denounced HCR2060 and two other Republican-sponsored “anti-immigration” bills in a statement Monday morning. “Every Arizonan is frustrated by the federal government’s failure to secure our border,” she said in the statement. “But passing job-killing, anti-business bills that demonize our communities is not the solution. Instead of securing our border, these bills will simply raise costs, hurt our farmers, put Arizona entrepreneurs out of business, and destroy jobs for countless working class Arizonans.” She called HCR2060 a “desperate, partisan attempt to circumvent the legislative process,” and called out state Senator Janae Shamp’s SB1231 and state Representative Steve Montenegro’s HB2821, both of which would make illegal border crossing a state crime. Republican state Representative Joseph Chaplik’s HB2748 would do the same thing. Each law would make undocumented entry into the U.S. a level 1 misdemeanor with the potential to be upgraded to a felony based on prior offenses and other circumstances. Each has passed through its respective half of congress and is awaiting further committee assignment. None of the sponsors for the bills replied to requests for comment. Rivera suggests that local businesses won’t comply with the pending resolution. “Business owners have no business enforcing Republican anti-immigration laws,” he said. “We are meant to serve our communities. Not police them.” Link to original article: https://www.courthousenews.com/arizona-business-leaders-blast-proposed-anti-immigration-laws/ Also picked up by The Tucson Sentinel