The proposed Arizona ICE Act is arousing weeks of protests outside the Arizona Legislature.
SB 1164, sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Mesa), would establish the Arizona Immigration, Cooperation, and Enforcement Act, which authorizes state and local enforcement of federal immigration laws in cooperation with federal authorities. It passed out of the Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee on Monday 4-3 along party lines.
Petersen, who is not part of the committee, said the bill also prevents local governments from banning the cooperation, noting that this type of stonewalling is occurring in other states. He said three county sheriffs have already entered 287(g) agreements with ICE. They are Pinal, Yavapai, and Coconino counties. He said Maricopa County already operates with a similar agreement.
State Senator Catherine Miranda (R-Phoenix) told Petersen that the law would result in racial profiling, comparing it to Arizona’s SB 1070, a 2010 bill that cracked down on illegal immigration but ended up partially overturned in the courts. Petersen responded by saying that SB 1164 mainly addresses detainers. He explained that their identity would be determined only after someone has committed a crime. He said illegal immigrants are coming into the country from over a hundred countries.
State Senator Sally Ann Gonzalez (D-Tucson) asked if it would only affect those who had committed crimes, not illegal immigrants who are merely workers or students. Petersen said that was correct; the bill primarily addresses illegal immigrants arrested for state crimes who have detainers placed on them. Since the bill was amended to eliminate mention of 287(g) agreements, Petersen said it was no longer as broad.
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