Arizona governor vetoes bill that would allow police to arrest undocumented immigrants

Arizona governor vetoes bill targeting undocumented immigrants.

Katie Hobbs says the law would not secure the border.

It would have allowed police to arrest noncitizens.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the Republican-backed Arizona Border Invasion Act.

This is a controversial bill that would give police powers to arrest anyone suspected of entering the United States without documents.

The proposal sought to establish one of the most rigorous immigration policies in the state.

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The governor of Arizona, Democrat Katie Hobbs, vetoed a controversial bill on Monday, EFE reported.

It would have given police authority to arrest migrants whom they suspect of entering the United States without papers.

And it also granted officers immunity against lawsuits, which added to its divisiveness.

Hobbs said questions over its constitutionality would have led to costly litigation.

Arizona governor vetoes bill targeting noncitizens

Photo: AP

SB 1231, also known as the Arizona Border Invasion Act, arrived on Hobbs’ desk Monday.

This came after a maneuver by Republican legislators, who ignored the normal debate on the floor of the state House of Representatives.

Hobbs argued that the proposed law does not secure the border, and could be harmful in a variety of ways.

«This bill does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state, and burdensome for law enforcement personnel,» she stated in her veto letter.

A dangerous proposition?

Photo: AP

The Democratic governor added that the bill raises “significant constitutional concerns» and could result in lengthy and costly litigation.

The immigration law would be one of the strictest in Arizona, allowing local and state police to question people’s immigration status.

It also gave law enforcement agencies and police officers “immunity” in case of lawsuits related to law enforcement, EFE noted.

Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto SB 1231 highlights the division in the country over immigration policies.

An anti-immigrant measure?

Photo: AP

Noah Schramm of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona said in a statement that the bill «was an anti-immigrant measure.»

In addition, he classified it as a “blatantly unconstitutional and extreme” law that would have sent the state back in time.

«Legislation like SB 1231 has no place in Arizona, where immigrants are our friends, family and neighbors.»

«But instead of protecting Arizona communities, extremist legislators are only concerned about inciting hateful divisions,» added the activist, who welcomed Hobbs’ veto.

Texas passed a similar law before the Arizona Border Invasion Act

Photo: AP

The Arizona bill followed in the footsteps of a controversial Texas law, EFE reported.

This recently approved measure allows police to detain and deport immigrants whom they suspect have entered the United States illegally.

The Texas law, which was to go into effect on March 4, sparked a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court will have to decide whether the law is unconstitutional for giving the state powers that are reserved for the federal government.

The Texas law is on hold for now

Photo: AP

Before Katie Hobbs vetoed the Arizona bill, the Supreme Court on Monday temporarily blocked the controversial Texas law.

This would allow police to detain and expel migrants whom they suspect entered the U.S. illegally, and was set to go into effect on Sunday.

The order issued by conservative Judge Samuel Alito is in response to an emergency request from the Biden administration.

The law, passed last year by the Texas Legislature, is one of the most anti-immigrant measures in American history, according to EFE.