Arizona’s Legislative Session to Address Funding for Immigration Law Enforcement
The upcoming legislative session in Arizona is set to tackle significant funding requests from local sheriffs, prompted by a newly passed immigration law. This law, known as Proposition 314, was approved by a substantial majority in the November elections. However, its full implementation awaits the outcome of a similar legal challenge in Texas.
Proposition 314, if enacted, would criminalize crossing the border outside official entry points and empower local law enforcement with immigration arrest authority. With these changes on the horizon, the Arizona Sheriffs Association has proposed a $100 million funding request over two years to support local agencies in enforcing the law. This proposal was highlighted in a December report by the Arizona Republic.
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels emphasized the necessity of additional funds, stating, “It’s passed overwhelmingly, now we have the will of the people who have spoken, and so we asked last year for $50 to $100 million.” This funding would address increased jail bookings and personnel needs due to the anticipated rise in border-related arrests.
Currently, substantial state funds are allocated for border security, yet Dannels argues that more is required as his jail already handles significant border-related bookings, including smuggling cases. He pointed out that current costs exceed $14 million just for Cochise County, suggesting similar expenses across multiple counties.
The distribution of any new funds would be determined by local sheriffs and agencies, akin to existing grant structures. However, the Arizona Legislature recently withheld funds from Santa Cruz County, following Sheriff David Hathaway’s criticism of Proposition 314 and his department’s claimed inability to enforce it due to resource and training deficits.
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