This extreme proposal would invite racial profiling, harming citizens and immigrants alike. It would also violate the basic human rights of people seeking asylum and other immigrants.
Just like SB1070 – Arizona’s infamous “show me your papers” law largely struck down by the Supreme Court – Proposition 314 will open the door to racial profiling and harassment of people of color in Arizona, empowering law enforcement to target individuals based on their assumed immigration status. This will inevitably lead to the detention and separation of families, inflicting trauma and fear upon our communities. Proposition 314 is also a direct assault on the asylum process, disregarding essential safeguards in federal law intended to ensure individuals fleeing persecution in their home countries have a fair chance to seek protection in the United States.
A deeply anti-immigrant measure, Proposition 314 could be enforced anywhere in the state – including against small children and elderly people – and at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, or places of worship. When enforced against families, children would be separated from their parents since state prisons and county jails do not allow minors to be detained with adults. Finally, Proposition 314 is an unfunded mandate projected to cost Arizona taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually in court and incarceration costs alone.
A NO vote on Prop 314 ensures that Arizona remains a welcoming place for all our communities, and rejects this cynical attempt to turn back the clock to a darker time.
