Will Prop. 314 help or hurt Arizona? Voters decide immigration policy

[Karah]

IMMIGRATION IS ON THE BALLOT IN ARIZONA.

VOTERS ARE SET TO DECIDE ON A CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION MEASURE “PROPOSITION 3-14.”

IT COULD ALTER HOW THE STATE HANDLES ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION –

AND GRANT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT NEW POWERS TO ARREST AND DEPORT MIGRANTS.

THE MEASURE WAS PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AFTER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS VETOED A SIMILAR BILL EARLIER THIS YEAR. 

IF PASSED, IT WOULD CRIMINALIZE CROSSING THE ARIZONA-MEXICO BORDER OUTSIDE OF AUTHORIZED CHECKPOINTS.

 IT ALSO INTRODUCES NEW STATE CRIMES, INCLUDING CRIMINALIZING THE SALE OF FENTANYL THAT LEADS TO DEATH AND REQUIRING THE USE OF THE E-VERIFY SYSTEM TO ACCESS PUBLIC BENEFITS.

BUT THE MOST CONTENTIOUS PROVISION OF PROP 314 INVOLVES ENFORCEMENT. 

IT WOULD ALLOW STATE AND LOCAL POLICE TO ARREST MIGRANTS SUSPECTED OF BEING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, AND STATE JUDGES COULD ISSUE DEPORTATION ORDERS. THIS DIRECTLY CHALLENGES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S CONTROL OVER IMMIGRATION LAWS.

PROPONENTS OF THE MEASURE ARGUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN’T DOING ENOUGH TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW –

AND THIS WOULD ALLOW THE STATE TO TACKLE THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS HEAD ON.

BUT critics OF THE MEASURE say it could BE COSTLY TO THE STATE.

SOME OPPONENTS ARGUE THE PROPOSITION COULD HURT AN ALREADY MAJOR LABOR SHORTAGE IN THE STATE –

PARTICULARLY IN INDUSTRIES LIKE CONSTRUCTION AND AGRICULTURE –

WHICH HEAVILY RELY ON IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

AS OF JUNE – THE STATE WAS SHORT 197 THOUSAND JOBS.

SOME ESTIMATES HAVE ABOUT 16% OF ARIZONA’S WORKFORCE MADE UP OF IMMIGRANTS –

AND THEY ARGUE DEPORTATIONS COULD HURT ARIZONA’S ECONOMY.

THE PROPOSAL MAY SOUND FAMILIAR.

TEXAS’ SENATE BILL 4 WOULD ALLOW FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ARREST MIGRANTS IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

BUT IT’S CURRENTLY HELD UP IN THE COURTS. 

ARIZONA’S PROPOSITION IS TIED TO THE LEGAL BATTLE IN TEXAS. 

EVEN IF PROP 314 PASSES – IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT ONLY IF THE TEXAS LAW GETS APPROVED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. 

WITH IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY DOMINATING POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN ARIZONA, THE MEASURE IS SEEN AS A WAY FOR REPUBLICANS TO ENERGIZE VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WITH AN ABORTION MEASURE ALSO ON THE BALLOT THAT’S EXPECTED TO MOTIVATE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

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