By Ben Kamisar – NBC News
Arizona voters on Tuesday approved a controversial ballot measure that will give state and local law enforcement greater authority to enforce immigration laws typically left to the federal government, Noticias Telemundo projects.
Approval of the measure is a victory for conservatives who have long argued that the federal government is not giving Arizona the resources it needs to protect its border with Mexico and deter irregular migrant crossings.
The move has faced heavy criticism from those who believe it will negatively impact Arizona’s reputation and lead to discrimination, particularly against Hispanic residents there.
The measure involves a series of changes to state law regarding immigration. For example, it makes it a state crime for an immigrant to present false information when applying for a job or public benefit, enter Arizona illegally from a foreign country—unless through a port of entry—or refuse to return home. country of origin if required by a court.
It also requires a court to deport immigrants convicted of illegal entry, allowing state and local law enforcement to hand them over to federal custody.
Although much of that is already illegal under federal law, these changes would allow state and local police officers, as well as the courts, to take these matters into their own hands, after years of Republican clashes with the House Democratic White on immigration and border security issues.
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The measure also makes it a crime to sell fentanyl that causes the death of another person, and reinforces the use of E-Verify, the federal database that verifies whether someone is eligible to work in the United States.
Arizona’s GOP-controlled legislature voted to put the measure on the ballot, including a technical quirk that allowed it to bypass the need for approval from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who opposed it.
The measure quickly divided candidates on the ballot in Arizona, especially in the Senate race, where Republican Kari Lake supported the proposed changes and Democratic Rep. Rubén Gallego opposed it.
Although supporters of the ballot measure have long advocated the need for stricter immigration laws, Republicans also hoped it would boost turnout of their like-minded voters in the election.
Although the measure will become law upon voter approval, it is expected to face legal challenges. A similar measure in Texas has been blocked, with several lawsuits. And Arizona’s controversial attempt to enact stricter immigration laws in 2010 was partially blocked by the Supreme Court.
