Arizona educators are sounding the alarm proposed election measure that, if supported by voters, would allow local and state officials to arrest people they believe have entered the country illegally, and they could do so at schools, hospitals and places of worship.
Unlike Texas law Modeled after a proposed ballot measure in Arizona, HCR2060, does not prohibit arrest in those institutions. The measure also allows judges to order the detention and deportation of those arrested.
“We’re already hearing from a lot of parents who are extremely nervous if this passes; what’s going to happen with their kids leaving school, what’s going to happen with pick-up,” said Jeff Zetino, director of research and policy. for ALL In Education, A non-profit organization working to improve Latino educational outcomes.
Zetino said one parent leader had two children with autism and was wondering what would happen when he went to health care.
“Should he worry about bringing his ID or documents, or will he be harassed by officers on or near the health campus?” – he asked.
Even if no drastic action is taken, such as removing a child from a classroom or removing a worshiper from a pew, a community resource officer—security officers stationed at schools—or any officer may ask the student or parent for proof that they did not enter. Zetino said the U.S. is illegal.
This possibility “weakens the really difficult relationship between school and community,” he said.
Arizona House Minority Whip Rep. Nancy Gutierrez warned Tuesday that the proposal would turn parent-teacher conferences into immigration controls, with some families not taking vacations for fear of law enforcement checking there and children not asking. going to the school nurse to protect parents from being called and potential arrest.
“Fear. This bill is harmful and will cost money, cause trauma and once again make our state a place full of fear … Texas don’t make my Arizona,” he said before voting no.
The Republican-controlled Legislature voted to approve the ballot measure after separate legislation was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hobbs.
The resolution states that this proposal does not apply to anyone who entered illegally before the ballot was introduced.
The fact that it would not be retroactive gave little comfort to opponents who questioned how law enforcement would know the difference and pointed out that there was no provision in the bill limiting arrests to the border region. witness someone enter the United States illegally
While Arizona has many Latino immigrants, its Latino population also includes many Latinos who were born in the country and whose roots predate Arizona. Some families are often a mixture of Native American and Mexican American.
Opponents said the proposal, if approved, would lead to racial profiling in the state under SB1070, which allows police to question anyone they suspect is in the country illegally.
It is also reported at the event that Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans recently released on parole Can be arrested by President Joe Biden.
Concern about “backsliding” in academic progress
“Where it’s going to have the biggest impact is high Latino and high immigrant communities,” Zetino said. “And these are the same communities that are underperforming (academically) and the same communities that need more attention in building and strengthening the local school system.”
Arizona schools already suffer from chronic absenteeism, Zetino said. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing at least 10% of the school year, or approximately 18 days.
According to Read On Arizona, in 2023, 28% of first through eighth grade students were considered chronically absent. Last year, the rate was higher among economically advantaged students, at 35%. the group reported.
“Any progress we’ve made will simply be rolled back,” said Anaiis Ballesteros, a spokeswoman for ALL In Education.
State Sen. Anna Hernandez, a Phoenix Democrat who chairs the Latino Legislative Caucus, said opponents of the measure are not seeking to amend the ballot proposal to ban arrests in schools or other places because she and others strongly oppose the entire legislation.
“We weren’t going to propose any amendment because no amendment would make it better,” Hernandez told NBC News. He said the ballot proposal is an attempt by GOP lawmakers to oppose another ballot measure seeking to legalize abortion, which could help rally Democratic supporters.
“They’re really trying to destroy their base,” Hernandez said.
GOP lawmakers said the ballot proposal was designed to protect the border, which has led to more people arriving and seeking asylum.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said, “This is really a border security bill. It’s really not an immigration bill. We’re stopping people who cross the border illegally. It has nothing to do with being in the state or being legal.” republican, This was reported by Fox News in may
The Legislature was not in session Friday, and a message left for the office of Republican House Speaker Ben Thome was not returned.
Immigrant advocacy group LUCHA there is sued is challenging the ballot measure, saying it violates a Republican-backed law that prohibits addressing more than one issue on a ballot measure.
In addition to criminalizing illegal border crossings, the proposal would require employers to use E-Verify, the system used to verify that people they hire are eligible to work, and increase penalties for selling and transporting fentanyl.
Both the Texas law and the Arizona ballot proposal seek to challenge legal precedent that holds that the federal government, not the states, have authority over immigration and deportation.
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