Conservatives in the Arizona Legislature want to put a Texas-style anti-illegal immigration bill on the ballot in November after the state’s Democratic governor vetoed the bill earlier this year.
In February, the border state’s Republican-controlled legislature approved a bill that would make illegal immigration a national crime and allow police to arrest people on suspicion of being in the state illegally. Undocumented immigrants who cross the border after being deported or those who fail to comply with an order to leave the state could also face felonies.
This is similar to the Texas law passed in December, but has been on hold since January due to a lawsuit from the federal government. This is one of a number of bills filed by states that say the federal government is not doing enough to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
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Migrants flee through a gap in the border wall in Lukeville, Arizona, on January 4th. (Fox News/Brian Allman)
However, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed it in March.
“This bill will not secure our borders. On the contrary, it will be harmful to businesses and communities in our state and burdensome to law enforcement personnel,” Hobbs said.
“I know there is frustration with the federal government’s inability to secure our borders, but this bill is not the solution.”
Conservatives in the state’s Freedom Caucus are currently pushing a bill to put the measure on the November ballot.
”I know Katie Hobbs won’t sign. [the bill], but the Arizona Constitution gives us as the Legislature the right to put such legislation on the ballot. And that’s what I want to see from the Arizona Legislature,” State Representative Alex Kolodin said in an interview on FOX News Digital.
Another red state moves closer to enacting Texas-style anti-illegal immigration legislation
Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a Republican-sponsored bill that would have allowed police to arrest illegal immigrants, calling it anti-immigrant and likely unconstitutional. (YouTube)
Kolodin is calling on the leadership to hold a special hearing, as the deadline for holding one has passed and a majority vote in the chamber would be needed to cancel it. He believes he has the support of Congress, but the only thing that matters is actually making it happen.
“I think all Republicans in the House are fundamentally supportive. But the problem is that so far that support hasn’t been translated into concrete action. Arizonans are counting on it. So that needs to happen,” he said.
Kolodin also said he believes the measure will pass if added to the ballot.
In December, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed SB4, a state law that criminalizes illegal entry into the United States. The bill, which is currently pending in federal court, has prompted efforts to enact similar measures in Arizona and other states. (Getty Images)
“I’m very confident that Arizonans will pass it. Immigration is by far the best polling issue for Republicans. This is an issue on which the vast majority of Arizonans are on our side,” he said.
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Arizona’s push represents the latest push by red states to take immigration-related issues into their own hands. Louisiana lawmakers recently introduced Texas-style legislation, and a similar bill is about to be introduced to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Other measures are underway in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia. Kolodin said the move is a response to inaction by federal authorities. He gave similar reasons for pushing the ballot measure.
“The federal government has completely failed in its duty to protect us from this invasion. Therefore, we must take matters into our own hands or risk the lives and safety of our constituents.” That is at risk.”,” He said.
FOX News’ Michael Dorgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
