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A proposed Arizona ballot initiative would expand the mandatory use of E-Verify to independent contractors and subcontractors. Businesses that do not use the system could face fines and felony charges. Latino business owners and advocates argue the initiative would be devastating to Arizona's economy, harming Latino-owned businesses and pushing away immigrant workers and clients. By Gloria Gomez, AZ Mirror Aureliano Dominguez moved to the Grand Canyon State from Sinaloa, Mexico, more than three decades ago, and struggled with homelessness when he arrived. Today, he’s the proud owner of four Sonoran-style hot dog restaurants. But a ballot initiative being hurried through the legislature by Republican lawmakers could force him to shut down as many as two locations. House Concurrent Resolution 2060 would ask voters in November to expand the mandated use of E-Verify, adding previously shielded independent contractors, like entrepreneurs, and subcontractors, such as roofing, landscaping or construction professionals, to the list of businesses required to verify the citizenship status of their employees. Employers who refuse to use the system could be charged with a class 6 felony and fined $10,000 for each undocumented employee. Dominguez told the Arizona Mirror that, if the initiative is sent to the ballot and wins voter approval, he expects the impact on his restaurants to be devastating. Anti-immigrant policies, he said, invariably push people away, which negatively affects businesses like his that are intertwined with the Hispanic community. “We won’t have the clientele we have now, because (laws like this) always divide families and lead to deportations. And then our employees would suffer,” Dominguez said. “It creates a domino effect on the economy of a business and on the community.” Latino business advocates and Democratic lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol on Monday to denounce the initiative and call on Republican legislators in the Senate to vote it down. The proposal passed the state House of Representatives last week, and if it makes it through the Senate without any amendments that would require it to be sent back to the House for another review, it will be sent directly to the November ballot for voters to consider. Sen. Flavio Bravo, D-Phoenix, warned his colleagues that the legislation would only serve to harm Arizona’s economy, noting that lawmakers have yet to resolve the state’s $1.7 billion dollar budget deficit. “We are looking down the barrel of policy that will not only kill industries and dig us deeper into an already growing budget deficit, but this will undoubtedly rip apart families and upend the work we have been doing for decades to strengthen our workforce,” he said. Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, criticized the resolution as “lazy politics” and an attempt to vilify immigrants to garner political points. The proposal’s sponsor, House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Glendale, is battling for a seat in Congress to represent the state’s staunchly Republican eighth district. And, despite saying he wouldn’t use the resolution on the campaign trail, shortly after holding a news conference to champion the measure he featured it in a fundraising email. Joe Garcia, executive director of the political advocacy arm of Chicanos Por La Causa, added that immigration policy is under the purview of the federal government. Congress has failed to pass any comprehensive immigration legislation for decades, and a bipartisan attempt to do so this year was run aground after Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nominee, expressed displeasure at a solution that would scuttle his ability to campaign on the issue. Arizona Republicans are taking the wrong approach, Garcia said, by threatening the livelihood of the state’s more than 200,000 undocumented residents. “You don’t punish people for broken policies,” he said. “You don’t punish people for strengthening our economy and our way of life. You don’t punish people, ripping families apart, simply because you want to get elected.” Jose Rivera, a first generation Arizonan and the owner of Tres Leches Cafe, a local Mexican-style coffee shop and bakery with a location just a block away from the state Capitol, urged lawmakers not to approve the initiative. “This bill not only threatens 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,” he said. “Bills like HCR2060 criminalize us, push us further into the shadows and stifle the very entrepreneurial spirit that defines the American dream, that defines what it means to be Arizonan.” Governor, businesses react Gov. Katie Hobbs spoke out against the ballot referendum on Monday, adding her voice to the growing list of opponents. While the Democrat has taken a critical view of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, inspiring hope among Arizona Republicans that she might support their more stringent proposals, she has repeatedly advocated for humane solutions and increased funding to address the state’s border issues instead of criminalization. In an emailed statement, Hobbs reiterated that stance, dismissing HCR2060 and a slate of other anti-immigrant proposals championed by Republicans this session as “job killing” bills. “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 wrote. “The answer to securing the border is more resources for border patrol and law enforcement in (border) communities, not job killing, anti-immigrant legislation meant to score cheap political points.” Hobbs also denounced the ballot initiative as a “desperate, partisan attempt to circumvent the legislative process.” While the Ninth Floor is the final step for bills, and Hobbs’ veto stamp can kill legislation she opposes, legislatively referred ballot initiatives don’t require her input and can’t be stopped by her office. On Friday, more than 100 Arizona businesses, faith and community leaders sent a letter to GOP legislative leaders calling on them to oppose the ballot initiative and other anti-immigrant proposals. Signees included co-chair of the American Business Immigration Coalition, Bob Worsley; John Graham, the CEO of Sunbelt Holdings; and Mesa Mayor John Giles. The letter warned Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen that the package of hostile proposals could have economic consequences similar to those felt after SB1070, the state’s infamous “show me your papers” law, was passed. “Our state incurred a loss of $141 million after SB1070’s enactment in 2010, with a rippling loss of 2,761 jobs, $86.5 million loss in earnings, a $253 million loss in economic output, and $9.4 million loss in tax revenues to the state,” reads the letter. “It also severely damaged the relationship with Arizona’s largest trading partner — Mexico. Arizona has seen this ‘movie’ before, and it did not end well.” Still, while Latino business advocates and their supporters have begun sounding the alarm over the ballot initiative, heavyweight business representatives that were opposed to similar legislation in the past and were key to carving out the current exceptions for independent contractors and subcontractors have been unwilling to take a stance. The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce told the Arizona Mirror that it is keeping an eye on the resolution, but would not take a position. The Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, which joined a lawsuit against the Legal Arizona Workers Act, a 2007 law that the GOP ballot initiative builds on, said only that it encourages all its members to follow “current laws using E-Verify” but refused to answer questions about its view of the initiative. And the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which helped spearhead the lawsuit against the 2007 law, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Garcia, from Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund, told the Mirror that he believes the hesitation is due to information gathering efforts, and said he expects the groups will take stronger positions soon. “They know what the cost is,” he said. “They know that, when we’re talking about the color green, suddenly the color brown is secondary.” It’s unclear, however, how much disapproval from the business community will dampen Republicans’ willingness to back the initiative. Villalobos said GOP lawmakers have been willing to meet with her to discuss her organization’s concerns, but she isn’t fully confident that they’re considering her input. “They may be open to meetings, but there is a definite track that they are following,” she said. “I don’t know how willing they are to listen, but we are certainly making (our) points.” She added that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which also led the challenge against the 2007 law, is ready to mount another defense of undocumented workers if the GOP ballot initiative makes it out of the legislature — whether through an education campaign against the measure or in the form of a lawsuit after it’s approved by voters. “We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to allow entrepreneurs and people who want to work in the state of Arizona to be given that opportunity,” she said. Link to original article: https://azmirror.com/2024/02/26/latino-businesses-advocates-denounce-gop-push-to-punish-businesses-for-undocumented-workers/ Also picked up by: https://news.yahoo.com/latino-businesses-advocates-denounce-gop-033736759.html?guccounter=1 https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_b83e570e-84fe-4a56-b66a-6373fc013907 https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/latino-businesses-advocates-denounce-gop-push-to-punish-businesses-for-undocumented-workers/article_c2958741-effc-5e47-aecf-6ee0b849e0bb.html https://www.newsbreak.com/arizona-state/3347660204138-latino-businesses-advocates-denounce-gop-push-to-punish-businesses-for-undocumented-workers https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/latino-businesses-advocates-denounce-gop-push-punish-businesses-undocumented-workers

La propuesta de ley HCR 2060, sigue generando temor en nuestra comunidad hispana debido a que establece multas a empleadores que no confirmen el estatus migratorio de sus trabajadores. Por José Ángel Galavis , Telemundo Arizona Enlace original: https://www.telemundoarizona.com/local-2/empresarios-rechazan-propuesta-de-ley-que-obstaculizaria-la-contratacion-de-inmigrantes/2383926/

Governor Hobbs criticized Republican lawmakers for a package of immigration bills that she believes will harm Arizona's economy and jobs. By Dennis Welch, AZ Family PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Gov. Katie Hobbs blasted Republican lawmakers on Monday over a package of immigration bills she said would kill jobs and businesses in the state even though she has the power to reject most of the proposals. “These bills will simply raise costs, hurt our farmers, put Arizona entrepreneurs out of business, and destroy jobs for countless working class Arizonans,” Hobbs said in a written statement. Of the three bills Hobbs called out in a press release, she has the authority to veto two of them that would make it a state crime for an undocumented immigrant to enter Arizona illegally. SB 1231 and HB 2821 also raise constitutional questions because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states don’t have the authority to enforce federal immigration law. But a third immigration bill poses a bigger problem for Hobbs because it is mostly out of her control. Republicans can bypass the governor’s veto stamp and send HCR 2060 to the voters in the fall. Unlike normal bills, the GOP only needs a simple majority of the Legislature to refer an issue to the ballot. House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican from Peoria, is the sponsor of the proposal ballot measure, which he called “one of the toughest anti-immigration laws ever written.” If passed by voters, it would expand laws requiring employers to verify the immigration status of their workers and make it harder for migrants to obtain a public benefit. Employers could face a class 6 felony and a $10,000 fine if they did not use the E-Verify system to confirm citizenship status. “Democrats at every level willfully refuse to fix this unprecedented crisis caused by their own open border policies. It’s time that Arizona voters ask them why,” Toma said in response to Hobbs’ comments. Toma, an immigrant from Eastern Europe, is also running in a contested primary for an open congressional in the northwest Valley. Link to original article: https://www.azfamily.com/2024/02/26/gov-hobbs-says-latest-republican-back-immigration-bills-are-job-killers/

Latino advocacy groups oppose an Arizona Republican proposal that would make it tougher for undocumented immigrants to work in the state. They argue the bill would unfairly target the Latino community and hurt the state's economy, similar to a controversial 2010 immigration law. By Wayne Schutsky, KJZZ Democratic lawmakers and Latino advocacy groups are calling on Arizona businesses and state senators to oppose a Republican proposal they say will unfairly target the Latino community. A coalition that includes Chicanos Por La Causa, Living United For Change Arizona and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce opposes HCR 2060, which would ask voters to approve new rules that would make it tougher for people who cross the border illegally to work in the state. Alejandra Gomez with LUCHA compared the measure to SB 1070, a controversial immigration law passed in 2010 that she blamed for a rise in racial profiling by law enforcement. Despite the pall cast over Arizona by SB 1070, “there are some politicians who are hell bent on making this their political posturing so they can advance in their political careers, but what we are saying is ‘not today,’” Gomez said. State Sen. Flavio Bravo (D-Phoenix) said the measure would also hurt the state’s economy. “We are looking down the barrel of policy that will not only kill industries and dig us deeper into an already growing budget deficit, but this will undoubtedly rip apart families and upend the work we have been doing for decades to strengthen our workforce,” Bravo said. But House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria), who sponsored the legislation, said something had to be done to address the influx of individuals crossing the border illegally. "What about basic fairness for hardworking Arizonans that actually comply with the law?'' Toma said last week. "How can they afford to compete under those circumstances.'' “Our border is being overrun by illegal aliens,” he added. The perception created by boycotts and other opposition to SB 1070 over a decade ago spooked Valley businesses at the time, leading 60 Arizona CEOs to send a letter in 2011 asking the Legislature to back off immigration bills. “It took the CEOs signing with their signatures and their names, saying, ‘enough is enough,’” Joe Garcia with Chicanos Por La Causa said. “It took professional sports teams to step up and say, ‘enough is enough’ – Los Suns.” But larger businesses and industry groups, including those who signed that 2011 letter, have been mum on HCR 2060 so far. None showed up to oppose the legislation alongside LUCHA and Chicanos Por La Causa on Monday. The Phoenix Suns — the organization that Garcia called out by name, which regularly hosts Chicano Night and other events targeted towards the Latino community — did not respond to a request for comment. DMB Associates, an Arizona home builder that signed on to the 2011 letter, also did not respond to a request for comment. Two small business owners, including Tres Leches Café owner Jose Rivera, did join the coalition at a press conference on Monday. “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're not welcome,” Rivera said. But larger businesses and industry groups, including those whose businesses could be impacted by new rules in HCR 2060 that would have strengthened existing statutes that require employers to use the federal E-Verify system to determine the immigration status of people they hire, have not officially weighed in on the legislation. The new legislation included fines of up to $10,000 and possible prison terms for violations of the law and would also require state and local officials to use E-Verify  to determine the legal status of those seeking public benefits or licenses. Steve Chucri, president and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association, declined to comment on the legislation. Spencer Kamps, a lobbyist for Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, would only say the organization is reviewing the legislation. HCR 2060 passed through the Arizona House last week. If it passes out of the Arizona Senate, voters will have the final say over whether it becomes state law – it's a ballot referral, meaning Gov. Katie Hobbs can’t veto the measure. If it goes to the ballot, the LUCHA/Chicanos Por La Causa coalition plans to wage a campaign to convince voters to shoot it down. Gomez, with LUCHA, said the group plans to knock on “1 million doors” this year. That kind of campaign can get expensive. But both Garcia and Gomez said that, if the HCR 2060 makes the ballot, they will have the support of the businesses and organizations that opposed similar legislation in the past. "It is my understanding that calls are being made right now," Gomez said. Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “I think typically in these situations, there’s a wait and see attitude to see who’s coming out, what will pass, and I think there’s a small desire in the back of everybody’s minds that this will die in the next step,” Villalobos said. “Unfortunately, we have to fight it early on.” Link to original article: https://kjzz.org/content/1872411/democrats-latino-advocacy-groups-oppose-republican-immigration-legislation

GOP lawmakers are pushing a ballot measure that bars undocumented immigrants from many taxpayer-funded social benefits. By TJ L'Heureux, Phoenix New Times Republicans in the Arizona House passed a bill to put a controversial immigration measure on the ballot in November that would require local governments to check a person’s immigration status before providing access to public health care, housing assistance and employment programs. Both chambers also passed identical versions of an immigration bill that is expected to be vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs once they reach her desk. House Concurrent Resolution 2060 is the brainchild of House Speaker Ben Toma, who is running for a Valley Congressional seat in a crowded race. The House approved the bill on Thursday in a 31-28 vote, and it now goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it. If voters approve it in November, undocumented immigrants would be barred from obtaining many taxpayer-funded social benefits starting in 2026. The bill is designed to ensure “Arizona taxpayers do not bear the financial burden of paying for the federal government’s failure to control illegal immigration at the border," Toma said Monday during a House Appropriations Committee hearing. The irony of the proposed law 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. Despite helping fund government programs, undocumented families would not be allowed to benefit from them, even if they have lived in the state for decades. Opponents of the initiative criticized Republican lawmakers for trying to bypass Hobbs. They also noted that the law could have a negative impact on the economy and would increase anti-immigrant sentiment in the same way the infamous SB 1070 law did after the legislature passed it in 2010. “Anti-immigrant laws like SB 1070, like HCR 2060, do nothing but negatively affect our labor market, cause national disgrace and lead to heightened discrimination of people of color,” said Lena Avalos, policy director at Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) during a House Appropriations Committee hearing for the bill on Monday. Though the initiative would further marginalize undocumented immigrants in Arizona, it’s worth noting that it would make no changes to immigration enforcement or border security. Bills make it state crime to cross the border Republicans in both chambers also approved legislation — House Bill 2821 and Senate Bill 1231 — that allow state and local officials to enforce immigration policy, even though that enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government. The measures, which also protect protect law enforcement from civil liabilities, are modeled after a recent, highly controversial Texas law that critics say will lead to more policing with less accountability. Jennifer Holder, an attorney for the House Rules Committee told lawmakers on Monday that many of the provisions in HB 2821 were likely to be deemed unconstitutional. Still, Republicans are willing to take their chances. “Frankly, I think this Supreme Court will back the protection of the borders of the United States,” said state Sen. John Kavanagh, a Scottsdale Republican. The House voted to pass HB 2821 in a 31-28 vote on Thursday. SB 1231 passed on Wednesday in a 16-13 vote in the Senate. The bills now go to the other chamber for consideration. Also Thursday, the House passed HB 2748 — which is similar to HB 2821 and SB 1231 — in a 31-28 vote. Hobbs is expected to veto the bills if they reach her. “We know the outcome of this. It will be promptly vetoed,” said state Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez, a Phoenix Democrat. “In the interest of saving us all time, I would ask all of my members on the other side who are in support of this to not bring these things up.” During debate in the House, Republicans lamented a lack of action from the federal government to slow the surge of migrants entering the country, a statement with which many Democrats agreed. The criticism comes after top Republicans in Washington, D.C., rejected a bipartisan Senate bill that provided $20 billion in funding for the border after former President Donald Trump asked them to ensure the bill's demise and not give President Joe Biden a political win. “Congress finally has the strongest immigration reform bill that we’ve seen,” said state Rep. Lorena Austin, a Mesa Democrat. “The ink is barely dry on this bipartisan bill, an agreement that would provide resources that the border needs but has been cast aside because Republicans are refusing to take action on the issue they say they care about the most.” In 2023, the southern border saw a record number of migrant encounters, though January encounters in Arizona were far lower than each of the previous three months. State Rep. Joseph Chaplik, a Scottsdale Republican, is the sponsor of HB 2748 and a co-sponsor of HB 2821. “I stand for legal immigration, but we as a country cannot sustain this kind of volume coming through our border,” Chaplik said Wednesday. He also spoke at length about immigrants entering the country, insinuating that the U.S. is being overrun by enemies of the state and criminals. Chaplik mentioned Raad Almansoori, who was arrested this week at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Police say he stabbed two women in the Valley after killing another in New York City. Chaplik cited Almansoori as an example of the criminals entering the country illegally. “Recently, in Scottsdale, they arrested a gentleman, Raad Almansoori, who murdered a woman in New York allegedly. He just got picked up. Hours before the arrest, he attacked an employee in a bathroom in McDonald’s in Surprise. He stabbed a woman in another stall three times in the neck. And the police say he’s suspected of stabbing another woman at a robbery with a knife,” Chaplik said. “This is what’s coming across our border.” Yet Almansoori is an American citizen who was born in Arizona, according to police documents. ‘I remember the fear in my mother's eyes’ Opponents of the bills have taken to collectively calling them “SB 1070 2.0,” a reference to the infamous "show me your papers" bill that was signed into law in 2010 and allowed local and state law enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration, creating a culture of fear in Latino communities. The law sparked boycotts and had a detrimental economic impact on Arizona, which became a national disgrace before three of the bill’s four provisions were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012. The bill’s sponsor, Russell Pearce, earned Phoenix New Times’ 2023 “Best Death of a Racist” award. Alejandra Gomez is the executive director of LUCHA, a progressive Latino advocacy group that was founded in the wake of SB 1070. She called the bills racist and divisive in a press release. “Speaker Ben Toma and Republicans are launching an assault against the diverse fabric of Arizona by targeting immigrant communities, and dismissing their contributions to the state's culture, and economy,” Gomez said. “Speaker Toma is choosing politics over the welfare of Arizona, just to score political points or for a fundraising pitch. Playing politics with Arizona’s economy and threatening families is not what Arizonans do, and should be unequivocally rejected.” During debate on the bill, state Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón recalled the oppressive aftermath of SB 1070. “Within 12 months, I was pulled over more than 10 times by law enforcement,” she said. She also told a story about her mother, an immigrant who became an American citizen. “My mother would carry her passport with her because she was so afraid that someone was going to stop her and ask her questions. My mom, who worked very, very hard to become an American citizen and was proud when she became an American citizen, is being stopped by law enforcement,” an emotional Gabaldón said. Gabaldón added that she told her mother to put her hands on the dashboard of the car and not give officers a reason to do anything to her. “I remember the fear in my mother’s eyes. This is gonna begin again,” Gabaldón said. Several Democratic lawmakers also cited SB 1070 as a primary reason for getting active in politics and government and noted the law fueled a progressive movement. “I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for SB 1070,” said state Sen. Juan Mendez during a vote on one of the bills. “I think sometimes my colleagues on the other side of the aisle underestimate the consequences to their seats,” said state Sen. Anna Hernandez, a Phoenix Democrat. “This bill is going to mobilize the new wave behind that, and there’s going to be a whole new generation of activists, of youth, of immigrants, that are going to get involved.” Hernandez also spoke directly to her Republican colleagues. “So in the future, when you wonder when Arizona starts voting more and more Democrats into office at every level of government, remember that it is going to be tied to SB 1231 and policy like it,” Hernandez said. With the 2024 election approaching, HCR 2060 could be on the ballot along with a measure allowing the state to vote on enshrining reproductive freedom in the Arizona Constitution.

Nearly 15 years after Arizona drew international condemnation for its controversial—and ultimately illegal—“show me your papers” law, the Arizona Legislature this week advanced a slate of anti-immigration legislation that threatens to go even further. By Camaron Stevenson, The Copper Courier The Republican-sponsored House Bill 2748, Senate Bill 1231, and House Concurrent Resolution 2060 passed along party lines Wednesday, with every Republican voting for the legislation and every Democrat against. The trio has been dubbed, “SB 1070: 2.0,” after the 2010 law passed in Arizona that, among other things, allowed law enforcement to ask anyone for proof of citizenship if the officer suspected they were undocumented.  This provision in the law was determined to be a form of racial profiling, and was struck down by the US Supreme Court. “Championing divisive—and racist—legislation, the sponsors deepen division,  an environment of fear and discrimination while legalizing racial profiling,” said Alejandra Gomez, executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona. “This SB1070 2.0 package does little to nothing to address the humanitarian crisis at the border.” If the proposals become law, they would: Give local law enforcement authority to detain and arrest immigrants. Grant law enforcement blanket immunity while enforcing immigration laws, removing any form of accountability for potential misconduct. Restrict aid for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution. Make entering the US outside a port of entry a state crime. Give local judges authority in immigration cases. Reduce the number of jobs available for undocumented workers. Require citizenship verification for public benefit applications and licensing. What happens next The two bills are focused on harsher border penalties and would empower law enforcement in a similar way to SB 1070. Next, each bill will be debated over and voted on in the legislative chamber opposite of where it was introduced. Should the bills be approved in the second chamber, they will then be sent to Gov. Katie Hobbs. Hobbs, who has called for a solution to secure the border while providing necessary humanitarian aid to those in need, told the Arizona Capitol Times that she plans to veto SB 1232—and by extension, HB 2748, since the bills mirror each other—should the legislature send it to her. “SB 1231 is unconstitutional, will not secure the border, and will drive away businesses and jobs from Arizona,” said Christian Slater, a spokesperson for the governor’s office. “She will not sign it.” But Democrats close to the governor have expressed frustration at how little Hobbs has spoken publicly about the measure, and believe if she did, it would embolden the business community and others who privately oppose the bill to follow her lead and speak publicly as well. They think she’s worried about political blowback and being characterized as weak on border issues if she did so. Those who spoke with The Copper Courier about this did so under the condition of anonymity, so as not to disrupt the negotiations of ongoing legislation. Should either bill become law, legal action is almost certain to follow. The legislation could prompt lawsuits alleging racial profiling, as SB 1070 did. The lawsuits that eventually overturned that law were filed before it could ever be enforced, and it cost the state at least $1.4 million to defend in court. The federal government could also step in, as the law calls for state law enforcement to overstep into federal jurisdiction. A similar scenario recently unfolded in Texas over border enforcement, where the US Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration over the state of Texas. The concurrent resolution—which would restrict the employment options for undocumented workers—will be added to the ballot in November, where voters will decide whether or not it becomes law. Public input minimal All three proposals were rushed through the legislative process; the bills were heard in one committee meeting each, and the resolution was in two, all within the span of less than two weeks. During public comment of HCR 2060, Rep. Rachel Jones, R-Tucson, only allowed three of the 10 individuals opposing the resolution to speak—and cut off the testimony of one of them because she disagreed with their statement. The resolution has been championed by House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Glendale) who has characterized it as a way to deter undocumented immigrants from living in Arizona. Toma has also used the proposal as a fundraising tool for his campaign for US Congress, despite denying that he would use the legislation to raise money. “Our message to illegal immigrants is simple,” Toma said. “If you want to take advantage of Americans, go somewhere else.” Historically, however, it has been undocumented workers who are routinely taken advantage of. They pay taxes, yet are ineligible for many of the social programs they pay into. Studies dating back over 30 years have also detailed how undocumented migrants are victims of wage theft, are paid less, and are provided fewer protections than what the law requires. Link to original article: https://coppercourier.com/2024/02/22/arizona-anti-immigration-bills-sb1070-border/

Por Univision Arizona

One of the Most Extreme Anti-Immigrant Racist Bill Packages Ever Introduced in the History of Arizona. Speaker Ben Toma Seeks to Return Arizona to the Dark Days of SB1070 Ver más abajo para leer en español February 21, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOENIX –  The Arizona Republican Party, led by Speaker Ben Toma, is aggressively advancing the SB1070 2.0 bill package (HCR2060, HB2748/SB1231) toward a final floor vote today, Feb. 21. This legislative package represents one of the most extreme anti-immigrant and racist bill packages ever introduced in Arizona's history. SB1070 2.0 bills are being spearheaded by Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, which aim to resurrect the dark days of SB1070, known for police racial profiling Arizonans, raiding neighborhoods, and tearing families apart. In the end, this would result in crippling Arizona’s economy and costing the state millions of dollars in business development as we saw in the days of the unconstitutional SB1070 law in 2010. If passed, these bills would inflict severe harm on black and brown communities, perpetuating racial profiling, and lead to the crippling of Arizona’s economy. Threatening families and undermining Arizona’s economy, especially construction, and agricultural industries is just bad policy. In a statement, Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA: “These SB1070 2.0 bills are not only racist, and anti-immigrant, but fundamentally anti-Arizona. Speaker Ben Toma and Republicans are launching an assault against the diverse fabric of Arizona by targeting immigrant communities, and dismissing their contributions to the state's culture, and economy. Championing divisive & racist legislation, the sponsors deepen division, fostering an environment of fear and discrimination while legalizing racial profiling.” Gomez continued, “This SB1070 2.0 package does little to nothing to address the humanitarian crisis at the border. Instead, Speaker Toma is choosing politics over the welfare of Arizona, just to score political points or for a fundraising pitch. Playing politics with Arizona’s economy and threatening families is not what Arizonans do, and should be unequivocally rejected.” As the SB1070 2.0 bill package heads towards a final floor vote, community leaders and advocacy groups are mobilizing to oppose these discriminatory measures and defend the fabric of our state. 21 de febrero de 2024 PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA Arizona's GOP & Ben Toma Progresan SB1070 2.0 (HCR2060, HB2748/SB1231) A Continuación Para La Votación Final: Uno de los Paquetes de Proyectos de Ley Racistas y Antiinmigrantes Más Extremos Jamás Presentados en la Historia de Arizona. El Presidente de la Cámara Ben Toma esta Tratando Devolver a Arizona a los Días Oscuros de la SB1070 PHOENIX – El Partido Republicano de Arizona, liderado por el presidente Ben Toma, está avanzando agresivamente el paquete de ley SB1070 2.0 (HCR2060, HB2748/SB1231) hacia una votación final en el pleno hoy, 21 de febrero. Este paquete legislativo representa uno de los más extremos anti-inmigrantes y racista paquetes de leyes jamás introducidos en la historia de Arizona. Paquete legislativo de SB1070 2.0 están dirigido por el presidente de la Cámara de Representantes de Arizona, Ben Toma, y tienen como objetivo resucitar los días oscuros de la SB1070, conocida por el perfilamiento racial policial de los Arizonenses, las redadas en vecindarios y la separación de familias. Al final, esto resultaría en paralizar la economía de Arizona y costarle al estado millones de dólares en desarrollo empresarial, como vimos en los días de la inconstitucional ley SB1070 en 2010. Si se aprueban, esta legislación infligirían graves daños a las comunidades de color,  perpetuarían la discriminación racial y llevarían a la paralización de la economía de Arizona. Amenazar a las familias y lastimar la economía de Arizona, especialmente la construcción y las industrias agrícolas es simplemente una mala política. In a statement, Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA: “Estos proyectos de ley SB1070 2.0 no sólo son racistas y antiinmigrantes, sino fundamentalmente anti-Arizona. El presidente Ben Toma y los republicanos están lanzando un ataque contra el tejido diverso de Arizona al atacar a las comunidades de inmigrantes y desestimar sus contribuciones a la cultura y la economía del estado. Al defender una legislación divisiva y racista, los patrocinadores profundizan la división, fomentando un ambiente de miedo y discriminación. Al mismo tiempo que legalizan la discriminación racial”. Gómez continuó: “Este paquete SB1070 2.0 hace nada para resolver la crisis humanitaria en la frontera. El presidente Toma está eligiendo la política por encima del bienestar de Arizona, sólo para ganar puntos políticos con Donald Trump. Jugar con la economía de Arizona y amenazar a las familias no es lo que hacen los arizonenses y debe ser rechazado inequívocamente”. A medida que el paquete de ley SB1070 2.0 se acerca a la votación final, los líderes comunitarios y los grupos de defensa se están movilizando para oponerse a estas medidas discriminatorias y defender la estructura de nuestro estado.

A joint legislative bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature aims to make illegal immigration a state crime, bypassing federal judicial processes and authorizing local and state police to enforce federal immigration law — a proposed legislation that has received strong opposition as critics say it mirrors what once was Senate Bill 1070, the controversial "show me your papers" law. By Silvia Solis, Arizona Republic Leer en español aquí: https://www.azcentral.com/story/noticias/2024/02/09/avanza-sb-1231-que-criminalizaria-a-migrantes-indocumentados-en-arizona/72528321007/ The Arizona Invasion Act (House Bill 2748, SB 1231), introduced by Republicans Sen. Janae Shamp and Rep. Joseph Chaplik, would classify the crossing of undocumented immigrants outside of a legal port of entry at the southern Arizona border as a state crime, would allow local judges to decide immigration cases and would provide civil immunity to local agents for damages resulting from actions taken during enforcement of this law. The bills await review from the Rules Committee in both the House and Senate before being heard on the floor of both legislative bodies. On Monday, Chaplik said the proposed joint legislation comes as southern Arizona has seen an uptick in migrant encounters and would support law enforcement efforts in border towns, as he championed his bill before the Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee. "This bill would enable Arizona to defend itself at the border," Chaplik said. A week earlier, Shamp defended the same proposal before the Military Affairs, Public Safety and Border Security Committee, saying, "We are in the thick of an invasion," and arguing the need to take action at the state level to protect the border given the lack of attention to the issue from Congress and the Biden administration. “We are sitting at a situation where the state (of Arizona) has got to do something in order to protect its citizens. That is how the constitution is written and it's time that we actually utilize that,” Shamp said. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates that border agents registered more than 302,000 encounters during December 2023, including apprehensions and expulsions. This wave of immigration prompted the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry late last year for more than a month, a situation that has contributed to political discourse on immigration issues in other border states and at the federal level. Opponents decry 'SB 1070 2.0' Critics have said this proposed legislation would mark a return to Arizona's SB 1070 signed in 2010, the most extensive and strictest anti-immigrant law in the United States at the time. The law required immigrants of legal age to carry their immigration status documents with them at all times and allowed apprehension and arrest by local agents if there was suspicion of their illegality in the country. “Make no mistake, this bill is 'SB 1070 2.0', a redux of the dark days in Arizona," Alejandra Gomez, executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona, said in a statement. "Immigrant families are far too familiar with the days of SB 1070 where raids and families being torn apart were a part of daily life in our state.” On Wednesday, Democratic state Sens. Anna Hernández and Eva Burch, who voted against the bill before the Senate committee, made similar arguments, extolling the potential for civil and human rights abuses as a result of the new proposal, with events similar to those that occurred more than a decade ago. “As someone who was born and raised in Phoenix, I distinctly remember the days of SB 1070 and reading this language (in the bill) brings back a lot of the thoughts and feelings of what that was when that was enacted,” Hernandez said during the committee session. “The reality is that this bill does open the door to racial profiling and we can all remember what SB 1070 cost the state of Arizona from an economic impact.” Marylin Rodriguez, with the American Civil Rights Union of Arizona, also expressed the fear of returning to those days. “In the past, we have seen Arizonans stopped by police because of their skin color or the languages they speak, family members arrested by local police because they can't prove their immigration status, mixed-status families reluctant to call the police when they are victimized due to the threat of detainment or deportation,” Rodriguez told the Senate committee. “The division and anger that sprang from that period are still with us today.” Poder Latinx Executive Director Yadira Sánchez told The Arizona Republic/La Voz in an email that immigration issues require a federal response, “not a state-level imitation of past unconstitutional efforts like SB 1070. Let us prioritize constructive dialogue with lawmakers in Washington, calling for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform that uplifts our entire community, including the 11 million immigrants vital to the progress of our nation.” According to Sanchez, the bill could exacerbate the crisis at the border and delay the advancement of humane and lasting solutions for the immigration and asylum systems that include beneficiaries of Deferred Action Consideration for Childhood Arrivals and refugees. A similar approach to Texas The Arizona Invasion Act has received overwhelming Republican support. State senators in favor argued Wednesday that the arrival of migrants to the border has contributed to the increase in organized crime, affecting security in cities and putting disproportionate pressure on state systems. This move has drawn a stark comparison to the recently enacted SB 4 in Texas, as Gov. Greg Abbott continues to take immigration issues into the state's hands. A nearly 50-acre site in Eagle Pass, Texas, saw an exorbitant increase in migrant crossings over the past year that culminated in occupation by the Texas National Guard in January, transforming the area into a high-security military outpost. The move is one of several applications of the new law that makes illegal immigration a state crime, which faces several lawsuits contesting its constitutionality. According to Customs and Border Protection data, border ports of entry in California and Arizona have seen a significant increase in encounters and apprehensions by immigration agents between December 2023 and January 2024, with Yuma leading the way with an increase of more than 260%. As the proposal continues through the Arizona Legislature, Republican senators at the federal level blocked a legislative package last week that sought immigration control measures to mitigate the current crisis at the border along with support for Ukraine and Israel. In response, the U.S. Senate voted Thursday for a modified version of the original national security package, leaving out border-related provisions. Link to original article: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2024/02/13/arizona-border-bill-advances-sb-1070/72570004007/

HCR 2060 will cripple Arizona's key industries & economy. LUCHA spokespeople, Lena Avalos and Gina Mendez share more about the negative affects this will have on our undocumented communities. By Lauren Clark, Fox 10 Phoenix

HCR 2060 is Anti- Immigrant Legislation that Will Cripple Arizona's Key Industries & Economy. PHOENIX – Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) stands in stern opposition of HCR 2060, another “SB1070 2.0” bill that targets immigrant families, but will also cripple Arizona’s economy. Arizonans are far too familiar with the horrors of the days under SB1070 that wreaked havoc on immigrant communities and Arizoina’s economy. During SB1070, Arizona lost over $140 million dollars in revenue, small businesses were negatively impacted, and the state’s image tarnished indefinitely. This is a step in that direction and part of a concerted effort to target the successful contributions of communities of color and immigrant families in the state. The Hit on Arizona’s Industries & Small Businesses HCR2060 unnecessarily requires contractors and subcontractors to participate in government overreach in the form of E-Verify and would decimate several sectors of Arizona’s economy. Whether you are a landscaper doing yard work at someone’s home or a construction company building homes, all will be subject to using E-Verify, an incredibly complex and costly system. HCR2060 will hurt already struggling industries like restaurants, construction, hospitality, and retail by slowing down the hiring process and raising labor costs exponentially. Failure to use E-Verify could result in a Class 6 Felony charge. Tax-Paying Immigrant Families & Their US Citizen Children Unfairly Targeted Additionally, this Concurrent Resolution proposes an unwarranted expansion of E-Verify, which would restrict immigrant families' access to essential social services such as healthcare, housing assistance, and employment. The irony lies in the fact that those who have contributed their hard-earned tax dollars to fund these services would now find themselves excluded from benefiting from them, effectively depriving them of the millions they have invested in these programs. Such a measure would impose a substantial burden on our public services, leading to increased illness, homelessness, and deprivation of basic necessities for countless children. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA said, “Arizona Republicans are not only proposing racist legislation, but, at its core, bad policy that hurts our communities, and our state’s economy. Arizona benefits to the tune of billions of dollars from the hard work of immigrant workers. Not only are they building our homes, feeding our families, but they run and own small businesses, employing thousands of Arizona workers.” Gomez continued, “Arizona cannot afford to revisit the dark days of SB1070. HCR 2060, is another 'SB1070 2.0' bill that not only targets immigrant families but also poses a significant threat to Arizona's economy and vital industries. We condemn this anti-immigrant legislation, we urge partners, and legislators to join us in opposing HCR 2060, and the weaponization of anti-immigrant rhetoric that undermines our values and economic prosperity."

Immigrant rights advocates derided the idea as ‘SB1070 2.0’ and say it will irreparably harm Arizona’s economy By Gloria Gomez Arizona businesses could be fined $10,000 for every undocumented employee under a GOP proposal aiming for the November ballot that opponents warn will push immigrant workers further into the shadows. Ben Toma, the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, touted the legislation at a Monday morning news conference as a critical defense amid record immigration at the state’s southern border. Last year, the Tucson border sector, which spans 262 miles, was the U.S.-Mexico border sector with the most migrant encounters for five consecutive months, reaching over 80,000 encounters in December. Toma, who is jockeying with several GOP candidates for a solidly Republican seat in Congress, said that his proposal presents a solution in the face of Democratic inaction. “Our border is being overrun by illegal aliens, and it’s painfully clear at this point that our governor and our president are doing nothing about it,” he said. “When those that are responsible for the disaster at our border refuse to do their jobs, when they look the other way when our children are being killed by drugs, while there’s human trafficking and crime filling our streets, I refuse to stand by and do nothing about it.” Titled the “Protecting Arizona Against Illegal Immigration Act,” House Concurrent Resolution 2060 would build on the state’s existing E-Verify law, expanding it to cover industries that were previously exempt, like the construction sector. It would also add E-Verify use as an eligibility requirement for state-funded assistance programs and state-issued license applications — effectively keeping undocumented Arizonans out of a bevy of jobs and away from financial aid opportunities. “Our message to illegal immigrants is simple: If you want to take advantage of Americans, go somewhere else,” Toma said. The proposal only needs to win approval from both legislative chambers before being sent to the November ballot for voters to consider, circumventing a veto from Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat. The E-Verify program is a federal online service that electronically cross checks a prospective employee’s information against records from the Social Security Administration and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In 2007, Arizona lawmakers passed the Legal Arizona Workers Act, prohibiting businesses from knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants and requiring them to use the E-Verify program to determine the legal status of their employees. Independent contractors, such as self-employed entrepreneurs, and subcontractors, who are often professionals hired to work on one facet of a project like landscaping or roofing, were left out of the 2007 law’s verification requirements. The expanded version would loop in all employers and contractors, leaving out only contractors or subcontractors paid less than $600 per year. It would also enact far harsher penalties for businesses that violate the requirement to use E-Verify in their hiring processes. Currently, the Arizona Attorney General and county attorneys can investigate complaints made against businesses and revoke operating licenses, but the new guidelines would empower the courts to assess fines up to $10,000 per each undocumented employee found. And a refusal to use the E-Verify system or obstructing another person’s duty to use it could lead to a class 6 felony charge — which comes with as much as a two-year prison sentence. Receiving public assistance would also be contingent on a person’s citizenship status. The proposal mandates that any city that gets state dollars to fund public aid programs, like housing or food assistance, unemployment, health care or disability benefits would first have to use the E-verify system to confirm the recipient’s eligibility. While most government aid programs already exclude non-citizens, some federally-funded initiatives offer coverage regardless of citizenship status, like the Federal Emergency Services Program, which helps the state’s Medicaid system cover emergency room visits or life-saving procedures. And some local resources, like low-cost clinics for the uninsured, provide care for immigrants, too. For immigrant advocates, the resolution is an unwelcome echo of SB1070, the state’s notorious “show me your papers” law from 2010 that ushered in an era of fear for immigrants and their families. Living United for Change in Arizona denounced the resolution as “SB1070 2.0” and warned it would only serve to harm marginalized communities. “During SB1070, Arizona lost billions of dollars in revenue, small businesses were negatively impacted, and the state’s image tarnished indefinitely,” LUCHA said in an emailed statement. “This is a step in that direction and part of a concerted effort to target the successful contributions of communities of color and immigrant families in the state.” Luisa Ibañez Martinez implored lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee that debated the measure Monday afternoon not to approve it. She told them she was concerned about the effect on the lives of her parents, who are undocumented, and recalled the impact of SB1070. Growing up during the aftermath of that law, which allowed police officers to detain people during traffic stops, Martinez said she was constantly terrified her parents would get deported for simply forgetting a turn signal. She urged lawmakers to vote down the new proposal and let mixed status families across the state work without extra hindrances. “You have the opportunity to do the right thing (for) families like mine, who want to work, pay taxes and contribute to the beautiful state of Arizona,” she said. José Patiño, vice president of education and external affairs at Aliento, an immigrant advocacy organization, told the Arizona Mirror after Monday morning’s news conference that he was angry at the rhetoric that so closely mirrored speeches used to champion SB1070. He said Aliento and others will likely mount a challenge to the proposal if it does make it to the November ballot, but he fears it will resonate with many voters. Anti-immigrant sentiment, he said, was active during last election’s Prop. 308 campaign, which Aliento was a key force behind. The proposition, which opened up state-funded financial aid for undocumented students and allowed them to pay the same tuition rates as their peers, garnered bipartisan support in 2022 that pushed it over the finish line — but just barely. Patiño added that Aliento and other immigrant advocacy groups have advised undocumented Arizonans to set up their own businesses for years, as a way to earn a living when every other employment opportunity is closed to them. While the federal program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals offers qualifying recipients a work permit, the program has been frozen since 2021, leaving hopeful applicants in the lurch. And in Arizona, since the E-Verify law was passed more than a decade ago, becoming an independent contractor was often the only way for young undocumented Arizonans to legally hold a job. Toma’s legislation threatens to upend that and relegate immigrants back to working in the shadows, setting them up for increased exploitation. “The alternative is what happened beforehand, which is that they worked under the table,” Patiño said. “You can’t complain if you’re being overworked, or not being paid overtime, because they’re going to be like, ‘Well, you have no rights.’” Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee tangled over how to approach undocumented labor, with Republican members advocating for a strict understanding of the law and Democrats calling for a more compassionate view. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson, criticized what she perceived as the proposal’s goal of further ostracizing undocumented Arizonans, and warned that cutting them out of the job market would negatively impact the state’s already struggling labor force. “At the core of this bill is the desire to prevent immigrants from being able to earn an honest living in our country,” Gutierrez said. “This will negatively affect construction, agriculture, restaurants and retail in an extreme manner.” Rep. Judy Schwiebert, D-Phoenix, added that blocking the contributions from the state’s more than 200,000 undocumented residents would only serve to worsen Arizona’s economic difficulties. “At a time when everyday Arizonans are crying out for relief from increasing costs, our Republican colleagues are passing laws that will only increase the cost of housing and the cost of food,” she said. “We need solutions, we need policies that will allow immigrants to work legally and gain citizenship, not further punishment that demonizes and divides people.” Toma disputed the characterization of his proposal as anti-immigrant, saying it instead seeks to shield Arizonans and businesses that do follow the law from competitors that act illegally and represent unfair competition. “This is not an anti-immigrant bill, by any stretch,” he told lawmakers on the panel. “I’m an immigrant myself, that would be utterly ridiculous. This is about being supportive of the rule of law and about basic fairness for all of those that do comply.” Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, added that the proposal is a valuable deterrent for migrants looking to settle in the Grand Canyon State. “Arizona is not a sanctuary state, and this legislation will ensure that it never will be,” he said. Lawmakers approved the proposal by a vote of 8-7, with only Democrats in opposition. It next goes before the full House for consideration. Link to original article: https://azmirror.com/2024/02/19/republican-want-voters-to-approve-steep-fines-for-businesses-that-hire-undocumented-workers/ Also published by: News From the States and the Arizona Daily Star