The fight to keep a border initiative off the Nov. 5 Arizona ballot is not over.
Immigrant advocates kept the issue alive this week by notifying the Arizona Supreme Court that they will appeal the judge’s ruling.
On July 12, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge rejected an attempt by activists to keep the initiative off the ballot. The groups argue that the proposal is contrary to law because it bundles several provisions into one measure.
Attorney Andy Gaona, who represents some of the pro-immigrant groups, was working Friday on paperwork related to the case he filed later in the day. The legislature will have until July 26 to respond, he said.
Gaona’s brief argues that bundling unrelated provisions into a single measure undermines the legislative process because it stifles debate, forcing a lawmaker to sign on to a provision he or she might not agree with because he or she supports another provision that was included in the same proposal.
“We believe that the requirement to submit a single provision has been violated,” Gaona said. “We hope the court will agree.”
Supporters of the initiative argue that it addresses only one issue: the border.
The Republican-controlled legislature voted in early June to place the proposal on the ballot, asking voters whether local police should be allowed to detain immigrants who cross the southern U.S. border into Arizona without permission. The measure would also give state judges the power to order people convicted of such crimes to return to their home countries.
It is similar to a Texas law that a federal appeals court has put on hold while it is challenged.
Unlike the Texas law, the Arizona proposal would also make it a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison to sell fentanyl that results in a person’s death.
Additionally, there is a requirement that some government agencies use a federal database to verify a noncitizen’s eligibility for benefits.
The proposal, backed by Republicans, bypasses Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who vetoed a similar measure in early March and has criticized the plan to put the issue on the ballot.
Supporters of the bill said it was necessary to ensure security along the state’s southern border, and that Arizona voters should be given the opportunity to decide for themselves. Opponents say the legislation would lead to racial profiling and raise public safety spending by millions of dollars that Arizona’s cities, counties and state cannot afford.
The measure would be put before voters in a state that is expected to play a crucial role in determining which party controls the presidency and the U.S. Senate. Republicans hope the proposal will make the border a central topic of debate, accusing President Joe Biden of mishandling immigration as part of the debate. They also hope it will dilute the political benefits Democrats hope to gain from an abortion rights initiative.
Border management is a key election issue for many Republican voters, who former President Donald Trump hopes will turn out in droves.
Biden unveiled plans in early June to restrict the number of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border.
This is not the first time that Republican lawmakers in Arizona have tried to criminalize immigration.
When it passed a hotly debated immigration bill in 2010, the Arizona legislature considered expanding the state’s trespassing law to criminalize the presence of immigrants and impose criminal penalties. However, the mention of trespassing was removed and replaced with a requirement that police officers, when enforcing other laws, question people about their immigration status if they were believed to be in the country illegally.
The questioning requirement was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court despite critics’ concerns about racial profiling. But courts barred enforcement of other sections of the law.
Cohen says she hasn’t lost her rhythm at all and that old age has given her “more wit, more vivacity, more energy.” While she bristles at the idea of anyone suggesting she retire from the job she loves, she believes the time has come for Biden to step aside.
“I’ve been very lucky,” Cohen says. “But the president hasn’t been so lucky.”
While many young people cannot imagine working longer than necessary, older workers often say they cannot imagine not working anymore.
While some people work into their 70s, 80s and beyond because the economy forces them to, many others do so out of preference. Surveys consistently show that job satisfaction increases with age, and for those who love their jobs, choosing to leave is a difficult decision.
Jim Oppegard, a 94-year-old school bus driver from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is considering whether to return to work next month when the new school year starts.
He loves children and having extra money to donate, and he continues to take tests every year to make sure he is up to the job. Guinness World Records certified him this year as the world’s oldest bus driver, an honor that has him reflecting on his future.
You’ve thought about retiring before, but always backed out. This time could be different.
“There is something to be said for going out on a high note,” Oppegard says.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Add Comment