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Arizona Senate approves Border Invasion Act to penalize illegal border crossings

The legislation heads to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk, although her office told The Center Square that she plans to veto, saying it is "unconstitutional."

Muro fronterizo, Gillfoto; Wikimedia Commons

Border Wall between USA and Mexico, here under construction south of Ajo, Arizona.

Published by
Verónica Silveri Pazos

The Arizona Senate approved the Border Invasion Act, which would penalize immigrant crossings across the border, unless they are carried out through a legal port of entry.

The text describes the law as "an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law."

The bill heads to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs' desk, although her office told The Center Square that it plans to veto, saying it is "unconstitutional":

From day one Governor Hobbs has taken strong action to secure our border and is fighting for increased funding to combat the fentanyl epidemic and expand Operation SECURE ... SB1231 is unconstitutional, will not secure the border, and will drive away businesses and jobs from Arizona. She will not sign it.

SB1231P by Veronica Silveri on Scribd

The bill was sponsored by the Republican state Senator Janae Shamp, who publicly asked Hobbs to sign the bill, per The Center Square, to help law enforcement authorities: "My message is: Please sign this. Please give our law enforcement a tool. Take the handcuffs off of them."

Hobbs has already vetoed several bills aimed at protecting the border

Since Jan. 20, 2021, the Biden administration has been criticized for its border policies. Joe Biden and his cabinet's management has not only received criticism from the Republican Party, he has also come under fire from within his own party ranks. who has criticized the president's policies on the uncontrollable border crisis that has caused havoc in her state.

The governor issued a public letter to the president late last year asking him to return more than $512 million to Arizona for "federal inaction," adding that this "has put Arizona's safety and commerce at risk." The situation in her state has led Hobbs to implement Operation SECURE, a measure that "will create a new Border Security Office within the Department of Homeland Security. The office, funded for the year with $2 million from ARPA, will serve as a hub of coordination for border security operations to ensure local, state, and federal assets are being properly leveraged to keep Arizonans safe and maintain a secure, humane, and orderly border."

However, despite the measures, the border crisis in Arizona has not ceased, and Hobbs has already vetoed several bills aimed at protecting the border presented or supported by Republicans.

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