Grand Canyon Times

State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) said Arizona voters approved Proposition 314, the "Secure the Border Act," to address what she calls the “atrocious Biden-Harris border crisis” and protect communities from drugs, trafficking, and crime. 

Shamp, who sponsored the measure after Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) vetoed similar legislation, emphasized that it reflects Arizonans’ desire for stronger state control over border security.

“Our state law enforcement asked me to create this measure because their hands were tied when it came to protecting our communities from the atrocious Biden-Harris border crisis,” Shamp told the Grand Canyon Times. “When Governor Hobbs chose to ignore our laws, our law enforcement, and our state’s citizens by vetoing the Secure the Border Act, I knew sending it to the ballot was necessary. It’s what the people of Arizona wanted, and now, they’ve spoken.”

According to Ballotpedia, Arizona voters approved Proposition 314 on Tuesday, November 5, bringing sweeping changes to state immigration enforcement and border security policies. With 63% of voters supporting the measure, Arizona joins a growing number of states pursuing stricter immigration laws in response to federal policies they deem inadequate. 

Proposition 314 creates new state crimes for certain border-related activities. Under the new law, entering Arizona from a foreign nation at an unauthorized border point will now be a state crime, empowering local and state police to arrest noncitizens who cross the border unlawfully. The proposition also allows state judges to order deportations and mandates the use of the federal E-Verify system to screen individuals for immigration status before they can access public financial aid or welfare. Additionally, the measure establishes harsher penalties for those involved in fentanyl sales, classifying the sale of fentanyl that results in death as a Class 2 felony.

“The people of Arizona want safe communities again,” Shamp added. “Communities free of crime, deadly drugs, sex trafficking, murder, and harmful fraud. I’m proud to have sponsored this measure and to have seen it through to pass at the polls, but I was merely doing what I promised to do when I was sworn into office. I will always fight for what’s best for Arizonans! In this case, I believe it’s also what’s best for our country.”

Critics of the proposition argue that it will create complex issues for Arizona’s economy and law enforcement agencies. Governor Katie Hobbs voiced her opposition to the measure, saying, “This will hurt Arizona businesses, send jobs out of state, and bust the state’s budget.” Echoing her concerns, U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego said, “We need real solutions, not policies that drag us backward. More border patrol agents and resources for frontline border communities would do far more than this measure.”

Despite these objections, proponents of Proposition 314 believe it will provide Arizonans with a safer border and a more controlled immigration landscape. State Rep. Ben Toma, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child, insisted, “This is not anti-immigrant. It’s anti-lawlessness.”

The approval of Proposition 314 marks Arizona’s sixth immigration-related ballot measure since 2000, with all but one receiving voter approval. In 2004, Arizona voters supported Proposition 200, requiring photo identification to vote and proof of citizenship for public benefits, though the U.S. Supreme Court later struck down part of that law.