Arizona House Approves Border Security Legislation

Voters in Arizona will have the opportunity to vote on a controversial law aimed at protecting the border in November.

HCR 2060, known as the “Secure the Border Act,” was approved by the Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives with a 31-29 vote along party lines and will appear on the ballot this November. This bill empowers local law enforcement agencies to arrest individuals suspected of crossing the border illegally, but police must have probable cause before making an arrest.

Previously, the bill passed the Arizona Senate with a 16-13 vote.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma stated that the bill was passed in response to President Joe Biden and Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs’ efforts to keep Arizona’s border open.

“It’s unsafe, it’s unsecure, it’s un-American, and it’s indefensible,” Toma declared. “Nothing positive comes from open borders. It only leads to crime, deadly drugs, violence, unsafe communities, and a continuous financial burden on American taxpayers.”

In March, Hobbs vetoed similar legislation and expressed that HCR 2060 would not enhance the safety of Arizonans.

“HCR 2060 will negatively impact Arizona businesses, move jobs out of state, complicate law enforcement duties, and strain the state’s budget,” Hobbs argued. “It will not secure our border.”

The governor urged Congress to pass legislation to secure the border.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona strongly criticized the bill, labeling it a “dark day for many in Arizona.”

“HCR 2060 would heighten the risks of racial profiling, harassment, and the arrest of long-time Arizona residents,” noted Noah Schramm, border policy strategist for the ACLU of Arizona. “It would divert significant state resources to immigration enforcement—a matter falling under federal jurisdiction—in ways that are ineffective, inhumane, and unconstitutional.”