Grand Canyon Times

Arizona voters will decide whether or not illegal border crossings will be a state crime this November, via the “Secure the Border Act” ballot measure passed by Republicans in the Arizona legislature.

The measure, HRC 2060, would classify illegal entry as either a misdemeanor or felony, giving local law enforcement the authority to arrest illegal immigrants, and would allow courts to issue orders for individuals to return to their country of origin.

The legislature put the measure on the ballot after Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) vetoed a bill that would enact the same measures through the legislative process.

Both the legislation and the ballot measure were sponsored by Ariz. State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise).

"When we say there are criminals and terrorists crossing our border at unprecedented rates, we mean it!” State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) told the Grand Canyon Times. “And the statistics clearly back it up. Our nation is on high alert because of what's going on at our border and we must take action. Democrats at the federal level as well as Governor Hobbs are making a mockery of this crisis by refusing to do anything to stop it.” 

“The latest CBP numbers are a prime example of why Arizona Republican lawmakers are sending HCR2060 to the November ballot. It will give our state and local law enforcement the tools to help secure our border, and in turn, give our state and our country a fighting chance to combat this invasion."  

In addition to making it a state crime to cross the border illegally, HCR2060 includes provisions to enhance penalties for fentanyl trafficking as outlined in HB 2820. It also aims to bolster the federal E-Verify program and prevent the submission of false documents for accessing public benefits.

The bill is similar to that of Texas' SB 4 which has been suspended pending litigation in federal court. Should Texas' bill be upheld, and Arizona voters endorse the Secure the Border Act in November, the measure would become active in Arizona 60 days following its enactment in Texas.

There have been 406,441 total encounters in Arizona’s Tucson Sector during fiscal year 2024, with 225,725 of these encounters being from citizens of Mexico, 75,610 from Guatemala, 3,096 from Honduras, 2,892 from El Salvador, and 99,118 from citizens from other countries.

During fiscal year 2024 to date, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has arrested 35,178 illegal aliens who have previous criminal convictions or who are wanted by law enforcement.

That’s according to an analysis of CBP Data conducted by Tucson Standard.

13.828 of these arrests have been made by the U.S. Border Patrol, and 21,350 of these arrests have been made by the CBP’s Office of Field Operations. The CBP’s 2024 fiscal year runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

A recent American Greatness report said that more than 400 illegal aliens were smuggled into the U.S. through a smuggling ring with ties to the ISIS terrorist organization. The Daily Wire reported that roughly 150 of those illegal aliens have been arrested, while another 200 are known to law enforcement across several states, and 50 remain unknown. 

The illegal aliens were questioned at the border but were released by law enforcement because there was not yet strong enough evidence to tie them to Isis. Eight suspected members of Isis were also able to make an illegal crossing at the southern border in early June before being arrested in multiple different cities. 

“The known ramifications of Biden’s open border include economic harm and serious street crimes, such as the horrific and preventable murder of Laken Riley," Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Voters, told Grand Canyon Times. "The unknown risks involve the very real threats of terrorists who’ve entered our country easily and without vetting.”

“How many terrorists have crossed Biden’s open border?" he said. "The truth is we have no idea…but the real number would almost surely astound and alarm every American,” said Cortes.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Glendale) said in a statement that “Arizonans need to ask Democrats like President Joe Biden and Governor Katie Hobbs why they are fighting to keep America’s border wide open. 

“Nothing good comes from open borders,” said Toma. “Only crime, deadly drugs, violence, unsafe communities, and an unending financial drain on American taxpayers. Yet, Democrat leaders fiercely oppose doing anything about it.” 

Both the “Secure the Border Act” legislation, as well as the bill to put the measure on the ballot, passed with no Arizona Democrat votes.