In a move that could significantly toughen Arizona's stance on undocumented immigrants, Republican lawmakers in the state are pushing for voter approval of new measures aimed at curbing illegal employment and benefit fraud, under the proposed HCR 2060 resolution, notable details of which include mandatory use of the federal E-Verify system for screening not only employees but also contractors and subcontractors before they can work, as per documented provisions.
With this resolution, cities, towns, and counties receiving state money for public welfare programs would be mandated to ensure that adult beneficiaries are lawfully present in the United States, through the same verification program, the scope of the law also extends requiring businesses to maintain verification records for a minimum of three years, according to 12 News.
"Our message to illegal immigrants is simple," stated Republican House Speaker Ben Toma at a recent news conference, "If you want to take advantage of of Americans go somewhere else," he further claimed in a fundraising email for his congressional campaign in the Eighth District of Arizona's West Valley that he had just introduced "one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws ever written in the Arizona State Legislature," the proposal coexisting with a historical backdrop of anti-immigration actions that previously placed Arizona at the forefront of national debate on immigration policy, as reported by 12News.
The resolution, which is seen as a bypass to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who would likely veto such legislation, has cleared a House committee on a party-line vote—though employers who fail to comply with the new mandate could face hefty fines up to $10,000 the potential for such a financial penalty has led industry representatives such as Spencer Kamps, vice president of legislative affairs for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, to withhold immediate response stating via email, "We are researching the legislation and don't have a comment at this time," this according to 12News.
If approved by the state's voters in the November ballot, the enforcement of these immigration checks would take effect five years afterward. HCR 2060, highlighted by Toma as a current voter priority, is criticized by opponents like State Rep. Marcelino Quinonez of Phoenix. They argue it undermines the governor's role and reminds them of the controversial SB 1070 days. Jose Patino, a vice president of Aliento, which advocates for young migrants and DACA recipients, recalls when undocumented immigrants were considered essential but are now being discarded.
