The Arizona Senate rejected five new immigration bills on March 18, bowing to the pressure of businesses in the state. In a state that has gained a harsh reputation for illegal immigration issues, this sudden turnabout reflects new economic priorities.
Since last year’s passing of the controversial SB 1070, the state has been hammered by boycotts, including one prompted by former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, as well as the Mexican state of Sonora, and Arizona’s own Rep. Raul Grijalva.
A November study by the Center for American Progress, a Washington D.C.-based progressive think tank, concluded that Arizona had lost as much as $150 million in tourism dollars in 2010, including $45 million in the hotel sector alone.
“No one saw the national and international reaction to the bill, but now that we have that experience, we know these kinds of measures can cause economic damage,” said Garrick Taylor, spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said estimates of lost tourism business ranged from $15 million to $150 million.
The vote was a rebuke to State Senate President Russell Pearce, a staunch force behind the new immigration measures including SB 1070, who sponsored many of the measures.
An open letter written by more than 60 businesses with the help of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce was sent to the State Senate arguing that the new bills were unnecessary stating, “While we recognize the desire for states like Arizona to fill the leadership vacuum left by federal inaction on immigration, we strongly believe it is unwise for the Legislature to pass any additional immigration legislation, including any measures leaving the determination of citizenship to the state.”
The letter also noted that Gov. Jan Brewer had directed $250,000 to repair the state’s reputation in the wake of SB 1070.
Some state Republicans joined with the minority Democrats, refusing to approve the bills, which were designed to challenge the rules of citizenship laid down by the 14th Amendment, as well as to require state agencies and businesses to report or otherwise enforce immigration law.
The omnibus bill included several measures to:
- Require hospitals to determine the citizenship status of patients.
- Restrict vehicle registration to legal residents.
- Make it a crime for an illegal immigrant to drive in the state.
- Require students at state universities and community colleges to prove residency status.
- Mandate that public housing authorities immediately evict any and all residents if one person is not a legal resident.
A related measure would have required parents to provide proof of citizenship before enrolling their children in public schools, and another would have required schools to count the number of illegal immigrants in the classroom.
All of these measures were defeated in the Senate.
According to the Arizona Tourism Office, the state drew more than 35 million visitors in 2009, bringing more than $16 billion to the state.
Analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center notes that unauthorized immigrants are 3.7 percent of the US population, comprising 11.2 million people. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, this number is “virtually unchanged” from the year before when the center estimated that 11.1 million illegal aliens lived and worked in the United States.
Pending Legislation:
SB 1495 — State Guard
Creates a special Arizona state guard, separate from the state’s National Guard units that could be called up “for any other reason the governor considered to be necessary.”
Passed by the Senate, remains in the House.
SCR1035 — “English Only”
A proposal to amend Arizona’s constitution making English the official language for government business.
Passed by the senate, remains in the house.
SB 1393 and SB 1394 — “Freedom to Breathe”
Two sister bills that challenge the EPA’s ability to regulate production of greenhouse gases in the state. The EPA?was granted the ability to regulate greenhouse gases in a 2007 Supreme Court decision.
SB 1467 — Firearms on Campus
This bill prohibits universities, community colleges, high schools from banning firearms on campus. Schools may ban weapons inside classrooms, but cannot do so for “right-of-ways” like streets or outdoor spaces.
This bill has passed in the Senate and is now in the House.
SB 1201 — Firearms Omnibus
Pushed by Arizona’s Citizen Defense League, the bill would allow firearms inside of all government-run facilities and many public events. Places could still ban firearms but only if they post a sign, provide firearm lockers, and have armed security and metal detectors.
The bill would also hamper Shannon’s Law—a law banning the firing of weapons inside city limits—by altering requirements for prosecution. Also, citizens could sue if they were illegally stopped from carrying their weapon into a public place and if the suit is successful, the law would allow for the seizure of a municipal vehicle if the government doesn’t pay damages within 72 hours.
SCR 1006 — Border Security
Approves the “Restore our Border”?plan, which includes hiring 3,000 more Border Patrol officers, the deployment of military units, the implementation of a new electronic survelliance program, felony prosecution for all immigration detainees, a streamlined process for recovery of damages.
Pushed by the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association, the plan is currently in the House.
