Article Summary –
Arizona’s Proposition 314, expanding police powers against suspected undocumented immigrants, mirrors the controversial 2010 SB1070. Critics like Reyna Montoya warn it may lead to racial profiling and fear among immigrant communities. Supporters argue it’s limited to border areas, but its broad language suggests otherwise. Montoya stresses solidarity and education in response.
Arizona voters recently approved Proposition 314, expanding police powers over individuals suspected of unlawful entry into the U.S. This new law echoes the controversial SB1070 from over a decade ago, which created widespread fear and uncertainty.
Proposition 314, overwhelmingly passed by Arizona voters, enables state judges to order deportations, imposes stricter requirements on businesses hiring immigrants, and enforces harsher penalties for selling fentanyl resulting in death.
Frequently compared to the 2010 SB1070 law, it raised concerns about racial profiling, as it allowed police to check immigration status based on suspicion of being undocumented.
Reyna Montoya, CEO of Aliento, recalls the era when former Sheriff Joe Arpaio conducted mass roundups of undocumented immigrants. Montoya, who was undocumented for much of her youth, founded Aliento to support undocumented and mixed-status families.
With her current DACA status, Montoya reflects on the past when SB1070 went into effect two years before DACA was established. Her family received alerts to avoid areas under heightened law enforcement to prevent deportation risks.
“I couldn’t even go to the movies with friends due to fear of deportation,” said Montoya. She made her younger brother memorize vital phone numbers for emergency situations.
In 2013, Arpaio was found to have used SB1070 to racially profile Latinos in immigration sweeps.
Real-life implications
The uncertainty of SB1070 for Montoya’s family hints at challenges Prop 314 could pose. Although full implementation could take years, its existence may create a chilling effect in Arizona’s immigrant community.
Montoya explains that undocumented parents might face dire choices, like risking felony charges for seeking medical care for children or providing fake information, which could lead to deportation.
After the proposition’s approval, Aliento has been supporting students who face increased bullying, as peers taunt them with threats of deportation.
Arizona Sen. John Kavanaugh argues that Prop 314 won’t impact undocumented individuals in Maricopa County but acknowledges no geographical restrictions exist in the proposition’s language, which could lead to racial profiling statewide.
Despite these troubling prospects, Montoya encourages solidarity in the community, emphasizing the importance of standing together in challenging times.
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