The Arizona State Legislature approved SB 1231, known as the Arizona Border Invasion Act.
Senate Republicans celebrated the Legislature’s passage of the bill meant to “protect Arizona citizens and communities from the crime and security threats associated with the current border invasion caused by the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce immigration laws.”
SB 1231 would allow local, county, and state law enforcement officers to arrest any non-US citizens entering Arizona outside of legal entry points. Additionally, SB 1231 would enable law enforcement personnel to arrest non-US citizens who have previously been removed, denied entry, or refused to comply with orders to leave.
In a Wednesday press release by Kim Quintero, director of communications of the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus, the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Janae Shamp (R-District 29), said, “Governor Katie Hobbs has declared on numerous occasions her disapproval for the lawlessness caused by the federal government’s open border policies and her desire to take action to protect our citizens.”
Governor Hobbs recently stated that safety for the citizens of Arizona is a concern and that security is “a top priority.”
State Representative Steve Montenegro (R-District 13) also agreed that Arizona needed to take action, stating, “This is Arizona and if the federal government refuses to do its job, we step in.”
This new legislation will give law enforcement the tools it needs to combat the rise of criminal activity in the Copper State. SB 1231 now awaits Hobbs’ signature.
“The Legislature has done its job. Now is her chance to protect the citizens of Arizona by signing this bill into law, so that we can take the handcuffs off of our law enforcement and allow them to do their job,” Shamp said.
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Debra McClure is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Debra on X / Twitter.
Photo “Illegal Immigrants” by John Modlin.
