For legislators around the nation, the border continues to be the top priority. In comparison to the same period last year, border crossings along the southwest border rose by 10% this fiscal year, and the rate of illegal entry into Arizona is still rather high.
The Tucson sector has seen a 130% increase in migrant interactions thus far this year compared to the previous year. Republican lawmakers in Arizona unveiled a bill they are promoting as “one of the toughest immigration laws ever written” in an effort to discourage migrants from relocating to the Sun Belt state.
Republican House Speaker Ben Toma of Arizona has proposed repurposing and expanding the federal E-verify job verification program.
“If this ballot initiative passes, illegal aliens will have every reason to leave the state of Arizona,” Toma stated.
Although it’s already necessary in Arizona, failing to confirm an employee’s legal status could result in criminal charges for companies under the new proposal.
Toma claims the change will result in yearly public benefits savings the state of billions of dollars.
“We may not be able to do the federal government’s job but we can definitely stop Arizona from becoming like California,” he stated.
Independent U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona submitted a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this month with the goal of overhauling the asylum process and toughening up on illegal immigration. However, after former President Donald Trump lobbied against it, the majority of congressional Republicans declared the package dead on arrival.
Similar to Arizona, Texas, and Florida are enforcing strict rules against immigration.
Senate Bill 4 goes into force on March 1. Entry into Texas unlawfully is now a state criminal, according to a new law signed by Republican governor Greg Abbott.
In the meantime, to address the border situation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in May of last year that his team dubbed an anti-illegal immigration statute. It is comparable to the plan from Arizona.
The Florida law increases fines and punishments for employers who violate the law, and it mandates that private firms use the E-verify system.
Proponents of immigration have mobilized against this and similar laws. Democrats in Arizona already reject the new resolution, claiming that it will simply lead to a scarcity of workers.
“It does nothing to actually solve the issue. What it does is it creates a path for creating a problem,”Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez stated.
Toma and other Arizona House Republicans want to put the plan on the ballot in November so that voters may make the final decision.
