Arizona voters approved a measure Tuesday to allow local police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico.
The border state approved Proposition 314, the “Secure the Border Act,” Fox 10 Phoenix reported. The measure was approved with nearly 63% of the vote as of Wednesday morning, according to The New York Times. (RELATED: MSNBC Host Shocked By Trump’s Surge Among Hispanic Men)
This is MASSIVE: According to @AP exit polls, swing-state voters care most about the economy and immigration:
Pennsylvania: 62%
Michigan: 60%
Wisconsin: 58%
North Carolina: 61%
Georgia: 62%
Arizona: 61%
Nevada: 61%— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) November 5, 2024
It makes illegal crossings into Arizona from Mexico outside official ports of entry a state crime.
The proposal creates multiple state crimes designed to target illegal immigration and fentanyl from Mexico. (RELATED: ‘A Lot Of People Are Very Angry’: Chris Matthews Unloads On Dems Over ‘Open Border’ Policy After Harris Loss)
Republicans in Arizona’s state Legislature referred the measure to voters this year after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a similar proposal, azcentral reported.
The measure would bolster state and local law enforcement authority by allowing them to arrest and detain illegal migrants. State judges would also be able to grant deportation orders.
The proposal criminalizes illegal border crossings in Arizona “in between border crossings.” It also criminalizes fentanyl sales that result in death, and it mandates E-Verify for access to public benefits.
The proposition potentially conflicts with the federal government’s power over immigration law, however.
Arizona voters pass ballot measure to create state crime of entering illegally from Mexico and to criminalize using fake id for employment or benefits. https://t.co/I4bHxiavid
— Jessica Vaughan (@JessicaV_CIS) November 6, 2024
The implementation of the measure is tied to the fate of a similar proposal, Texas’ Senate Bill 4. That legislation would amend state law to outlaw “sanctuary city” policies.
These policies “prohibit local law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status and complying with detainer requests,” according to the bill.
One provision in Proposition 314 states the measure will only be implemented if Senate Bill 4 is ruled constitutional and has been in effect for 60 days, azcentral reported. The U.S. Supreme Court will likely make that decision, but it is unclear when that will happen. (RELATED: California Voters Reverse Decade-Old Crime Ballot Measure, Opting To Crackdown On Retail Theft, Drugs)
Immigration spiked to the number one issue for Americans in February, according to a Gallup Poll.
The National Border Patrol Union congratulated President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on their win in a social media post Wednesday.
“We look forward to securing the border together and making this country safe again!”
On behalf of the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council, we congratulate President-elect @realDonaldTrump and Vice President-elect @JDVance on their historic (but not surprising) win! We look forward to securing the border together and making this country safe… pic.twitter.com/e600W8fJBP
— Border Patrol Union – NBPC (@BPUnion) November 6, 2024
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
