News Release: May 16, 2024
Grand Canyon Institute, ADCRR Predict $325 million Costs to State and Local Governments
PHOENIX — Business leaders, law enforcement officials, faith leaders and advocates are sounding the alarm around HCR 2060. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Local First Arizona, American Business Immigration Coalition, bipartisan county attorneys from three border counties, diverse faith leaders and advocates have come out calling on the Senate to protect Arizona’s future, reputation, and taxpayers by stopping this measure from passing.
Additionally, the nonpartisan Grand Canyon Institute estimated the cost of the ballot referral at $325 million a year, while ADCRR projects “significant operational and fiscal impacts to the agency.”
MORE BELOW:
American Business Immigration Coalition Co-chairman, Zenni Homes CEO, and former Arizona Republican State Senator Bob Worsley:
“Don’t forget that after SB 1070, our economy took a serious hit. Conventions, concerts and sports championships boycotted Arizona. Let’s not go back there with HCR 2060.
American Business Immigration Coalition Board Member from Arizona and Sunbelt Holdings Chairman and CEO John Graham:
“Arizona’s economy simply cannot function without the hard work and entrepreneurship of our immigrant community. This harmful ballot referral is going to drive workers out of our state, and we will be in a world of hurt.”
Local First Arizona Executive Director Kimber Lanning:
“The ballot referral includes no money to pay for the demands it makes of local law enforcement agencies. That omission should concern voters. When Arizona tries to take a federal issue into its own hands, the people of Arizona pay the price, whether emotionally or psychologically or economically. Our community deserves better.”
Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Danny Seiden:
“The Arizona business community agrees with Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state legislature: the federal government has failed in its job to secure our southern border. We call on Congress and the President to act — now — to secure our border, stop our asylum laws from being gamed and crack down on human and fentanyl trafficking.
“We share the legislature’s frustration with the lack of federal action on immigration and border security. We also recognize that law making at the ballot box is fraught with the potential for unintended consequences and Arizona’s Voter Protection Law would leave the legislature nearly powerless to address them. By taking on this federal responsibility, we’re saddling overburdened law enforcement and correctional agencies with a new, unfunded mandate.”
Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC):
“The ongoing border crisis is a serious and challenging issue that Washington, D.C. needs to solve. While the lack of federal action has sparked discussion around implementing measures at the state level, GPEC has serious concerns with the constitutional legalities and bill complexities of HCR 2060 that would create potential hardship for our state’s economy and our residents. The provisions pose a significant risk for our state’s economy and our residents. The provisions pose a significant risk to Arizona’s brand and our ability to continue to attract high-value companies to the region.”
“Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) voices its opposition to HCR 2060, an immigration measure that is an unworkable response to a federal problem with unknown consequences. This measure places an unfunded mandate on local law enforcement to enforce border policy and lacks the infrastructure needed to assume the federal responsibility of apprehension and detention.”
Arizona Border Counties Coalition:
“As communities with a front row seat to the issues impacting the border, we are the first to deal with the consequences of ineffective and inefficient policies coming out of Washington, D.C. We write today in opposition to Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2060 that seeks to have city and county governments assume responsibilities that we believe should remain strictly a federal mandate.
“As signatories to this letter, we ask the Arizona state legislature to keep a long-term perspective for what is best for Arizona, our future growth and the relationship with our largest trading partner and the number one source of tourism dollars in our state.”
Bipartisan Border Law Enforcement:
“The criminal provisions are unenforceable, bad public policy and embarrassing for this state,” stated Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre.
“But this, once again, places the burden on local agencies, including law enforcement and detention facilities, criminal justice practitioners and courts, to name a few, to use their already strained resources in order to pick up where the federal government left off — and with the local residents footing the bill,” said Yuma County Attorney Jon Smith.
“Now, as Pima’s top law enforcement official, I need all of our neighborhoods to trust our police and to participate as victims and witnesses in holding accountable those who would do us harm,” stated Pima County Attorney Laura Conover.
Tyler Montague, Yes on Prop 308 Chairman:
“Arizona voters said, ‘Of course, we want good kids who are going through school to have the opportunity to become educated, self-sufficient contributors to our economy and our communities,’ and I think that extends to many other immigrants. Hurting Dreamers and immigrants is not what everyday Arizonans want.”
Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA):
“This proposed ballot referral does not solve the humanitarian crisis at the border. Instead, Republican lawmakers are proposing legislation that would create fear, distrust in our communities and legalize racial profiling. No one should have to live in fear of harassment due to the color of their skin. Our communities haven’t forgotten about the dark days brought upon by SB 1070 when entire communities were ripped apart by another racist law. This is a GOP temper tantrum turned into policy.”
Jose Patino, Vice President of Aliento:
“Undocumented parents of U.S. citizens will be afraid of seeking and receiving public benefits from the government. More than 144,000 citizen children who live in mixed-status families will likely not receive the services they need.” (Arizona Republic Op-Ed: I was an immigrant child with a tumor. Doctors saved my life, but that access could be halted)
Enrique Sanchez, Intermountain State Director, and James O’Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs, American Business Immigration Coalition Action:
“ABIC action stands with Arizona business, faith and community voices against HCR 2060. This legislation comes with an unnecessary price tag to Arizona taxpayers. It is an unfunded mandate to cities and counties and opens those cities up to lawsuits. This legislation is modeled after other legislation that a federal court has already found violates the constitution. We strongly urge all friends of business to vote no on HCR 2060 that will harm Arizona’s reputation and economy.”
Laura Clement, Educator and Representative of Mormon Women for Ethical Government:
“I am a teacher. Right now, I have a lot of students who want to go back to school and become nurses, but the last thing they need is to worry about police officers detaining them and their families in their communities, in their places of worship or at school.”
Rev. Gerald P. Richard, Board Member of the Arizona Faith Network:
“This legislative proposal not only challenges our societal norms but also the moral principles that unite us in our commitment to justice and human dignity, as dictated by our faiths. Our collective faith traditions teach us to affirm the intrinsic worth of every individual.”
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, representing Arizona Jews for Justice:
“This is not a partisan issue; this is not a political issue; this is a faith issue. A faith issue that sees the humanity of every person and stands up for their dignity and rights. A country that is based on fear-mongering that creates the anxiety of unsafety is bad for everyone.”
Joseph Garcia, Director of Public Policy, Chicanos Por La Causa:
“We’ve seen this movie before with SB 1070. We know how it ends; we know its loss of labor, loss of reputation for Arizona, two black eyes that we give ourselves. Let’s avoid it this time. Let’s not go back into history; let’s go forward with a positive future and celebrate, actually celebrate, immigrant labor in this country because immigrants contribute so much to our success and so much to our American story.”
Everk Sanchez, U.S. citizen, member of American Families United:
“This proposal would directly harm your neighbors, the ones you greet at church, the ones who take care of your children and the ones who educate our kids. This proposal is a political stunt that will cost taxpayers money. The people behind this proposal also have families. Families belong together as I’m sure they would agree. Arizona is so much better than this. I urge our community to pay attention and stand up once again for our society as a whole.”
Arizona Voters Agenda’s new poll shows 90 percent of Arizonans believe that immigration is important to our country and economy, and 77 percent support a path to citizenship.
Arizona Republic: Arizona prisons chief sounds $252M alarm on Republican-backed immigration ballot measure
- The obligation would not only add millions to the state’s prison spending, but it risks running afoul of a federal court injunction related to the state’s handling of inmate medical care, Thornell said. The state is bound to honor certain health care and “conditions of confinement” requirements, which add up to more staff and operational costs, he said
- The potential added cost comes as the agency is seeking an extra $74 million this year and a roughly $203 million increase in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Arizona faces a $1.3 billion deficit, split almost evenly between the current year and the coming budget year.
- The measure, over time, will also sap the agency’s ability to provide beds for all inmates, the memo states. Currently, the agency has 8,000 empty beds, or an 18 percent vacancy rate. But there is no staffing to go along with those 8,000 beds, should they fill up.
- The memo then paints a dire scenario, assuming the current rate of incarceration along with 1,500 new border crossers each year: the need for a new prison.
Read the memo from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) on fiscal and operational impacts HERE.
Additionally, the Grand Canyon Institute estimates the “plan” would cost at least $325 million a year.
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ABIC Action was created to mobilize the power of American businesses and the general public to promote and advocate for sensible immigration solutions. ABIC Action will develop and advocate for legislation, regulations, and government programs that promote common-sense state and federal immigration reform to benefit the people and economy of our country. ABIC Action operates under federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).