() – Authorities in Arizona border cities have a new immigration mandate, and they are preparing to enforce it, but they also warn that they need more funding for what has traditionally been a federal responsibility.
projected that Proposition 314, which garnered 63% support as of Thursday, will pass. The proposal allows Arizona state and local law enforcement to detain immigrants and penalize unauthorized crossings anywhere that is not an official port of entry. In short, it makes violations of immigration law a state crime, rather than just a federal crime.
It also increases the punishment for the sale of fentanyl that results in the death of a person.
St. Louis Police Lieutenant Emmanuel Botello told affiliate KTVK/KPHO that more federal funds will be needed to enforce the mandate.
“We’re not particularly aiming to send units out there that specifically target or look for illegals,” Botello said. “We are going to continue to prioritize the protection of life, the protection of the property of our residents, they will continue to be at the top of our priorities.”
The measure adds another dimension to the long-running debate over border security in a state that shares almost 600 km of border with Mexico.
Its defenders claim that the measure would curb illegal immigration and reduce crime perpetrated by immigrants, intervening where the federal government has failed. For their part, detractors maintain that the measure would lead to racial singling out and illegal police actions, would be costly for the state and would overload law enforcement resources.
The proposal is similar to the controversial Texas immigration law known as SB 4, whose entry into force has been blocked while a legal challenge is resolved in the courts.
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