Conservatives in the Arizona legislature are making moves to introduce a Texas-style anti-illegal immigration law on the November ballot after the state's Democratic governor vetoed a similar bill earlier this year. The proposed measure, approved by the Republican-controlled legislature in February, aims to make illegal immigration a state crime and grant police the authority to arrest individuals suspected of being in the state illegally.
The bill also includes provisions to classify crossing the border after deportation as a felony, as well as making it a felony for those who have been ordered to leave the state but have not complied. This legislation mirrors a Texas law passed in December, which is currently on hold due to a federal lawsuit.
Despite Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoing the bill in March, conservatives from the state's Freedom Caucus are advocating for its inclusion on the November ballot. State Representative Alex Kolodin expressed confidence in the legislature's ability to refer the law to the ballot, emphasizing the widespread support among Republicans.
Kolodin believes that if the measure were added to the ballot, it would receive significant backing from Arizonans, citing immigration as a key polling issue for Republicans in the state. The push for this legislation in Arizona reflects a broader trend among red states to address immigration issues independently, with similar measures being considered in Louisiana, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
According to Kolodin, the motivation behind these state-level actions is the perceived failure of the federal government to adequately address immigration challenges. He argues that taking matters into their own hands is necessary to safeguard the lives and safety of constituents in the face of what he describes as an 'invasion.'
