By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona voters may have the opportunity to help crack down on illegal immigration if the state legislature refers a new measure to the ballot.
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed HCR 2060, which was sponsored by Speaker Ben Toma. The proposal would “submit a proposition to the voters relating to employment and the use of the E-Verify program,” according to the overview provided by the State House.
In a statement accompanying the announcement of this introduction, Speaker Toma said, “We need to ensure illegal aliens don’t stay in Arizona to illegally obtain work and free benefits. The invasion of illegals into our country is a cultural and financial catastrophe! It is incumbent upon Arizona to do its part to ensure that if you break our laws, there are real consequences. We need to make sure illegal aliens can’t take advantage of hardworking American pocketbooks.”
On Monday, Toma held a press conference outside the state capitol with fellow members of the Legislature. Afterwards, he posted on the platform “X,” “Today, I announced my ballot referral to crack down on illegal immigration. The ‘Protecting Arizona Against Illegal Immigration Act’ expands the use of E-Verify and cuts off welfare programs to illegal aliens. If the Biden Administration won’t provide deterrents to stop the illegal invasion, Arizona will.”
According to Speaker Toma, HCR 2060 would accomplish the following:
- Make it a class 6 felony to knowingly assist illegal aliens in their efforts to break the law.
- Give Arizona’s law enforcement agencies greater resources to enforce immigration laws by instituting tough financial penalties for violations ($10,000 per offense).
- Require any state funded government agency or program which provides social welfare benefits to individuals to run them through E-Verify.
- Require businesses to run E-Verify when hiring independent contractors for the first time.
- Require any state agency that issues documentation, licensing, accreditation, or identification that is not immigration related to run an applicant through E-Verify.
Democrats on the committee expressed their strong opposition to the Speaker’s legislation. Representative Lorena Austin said, “I’m proud to serve with other members of the SB 1070 generation. We got involved, we got educated, we’re here now and we’re not going anywhere because we’re here to protect the rights of all Arizonans.”
Representative Marcelino Quiñonez added, “This sort of rhetoric, this sort of branding does not benefit Arizona. This is not who we are anymore.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from Heritage Action for America signed in support of Toma’s measure. Representatives from Chicanos Por La Causa, Living United for Change in Arizona, CHISPA Arizona, American Civil Liberties Union of AZ, State Conference NAACP, Rural Arizona Action, All Voting is Local Action, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, and WM E Morris Institute for Justice, indicated their opposition to HCR 2060.
HCR 2060 awaits final action in the State House of Representatives. If passed by both chambers, it would appear on the November General Election ballot.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
