Action Alert: Oppose HCR2060
HCR 2060 is the latest push in a session-long attempt to introduce punitive immigration policy in our state, and the Senate is set to vote on it this Tuesday, 5/14 (the House will hold a vote on the recent amendments on Wednesday). This week, a state lawmaker reached out to our Policy Council about activating our network in opposition to this bill. The “Secure the Border Act” will make it more difficult for folks to receive steady employment and will negatively impact businesses throughout the state. The amendment will undoubtedly make hunger and housing even bigger issues in Arizona, in addition to stripping many immigrants of dignity and opportunity! Join us in opposing this legislation.
What Does HCR 2060 Do?
Like all Concurrent Resolutions, if this policy passes, it will be sent to a popular vote in November. Even though that would leave us time to oppose it, it would be better for everyone if this bill was defeated now. It would also send a strong message about the need to treat all of our neighbors, regardless of their immigration status, with dignity.
HCR 2060 makes it a state crime to cross the Arizona-Mexico border at any point that is not an official port of entry. Residing in Arizona without “lawful presence” would become a crime, anywhere from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on what parts of the law a person is in violation of. Local police forces across the state would now be able to arrest folks for being in the state illegally.
This policy also requires all employers to verify the citizenship status of all workers and penalizes businesses that hire someone of undocumented status.
This law also strips protections from DACA recipients.
Where Have We Seen This Before?
HCR 2060 may sound familiar to some of our readers. Many of you remember the days of SB 1070, which also sought to deter illegal immigration. This bill was passed back in 2010 and had a notoriously bad affect on the state. Instances of racial profiling by police officers skyrocketed, as some officers considered a person’s racial identity, appearance, or even their use of Spanish as enough cause to suspect undocumented status. Additionally, the state’s economy struggled as we faced boycotts from around the country and as the state’s work force weakened as a result of this policy.
The supreme court found many parts of this law to be unconstitutional.
There was also a similar package of bills introduced to the legislature this session. In addition to the Concurrent Resolution, both the House and Senate saw bills that were almost identical; incase any one of them got defeated, there were still multiple avenues for this cruel legislation to pass. SB 1231 passed, but was vetoed by Governor Hobbs, meaning that the identical House bill has also been abandoned. As a result, HCR 2060 has become the focus of these efforts.
LAMA’s Perspective
LAMA firmly opposes this bill. By negatively impacting Arizona’s economy and work regulations, this policy will cause many of our neighbors, regardless of immigration status, to struggle to put food on the table and achieve economic stability.
Lutherans of all varieties have a long a rich history of supporting immigrants and refugees. The vast majority of our families immigrated to America at one time or another, and the Bible commands us many times to care for the foreigner in need. The ELCA Social Message on Immigration states:
“The leaders and congregations that have given us this legacy remind us that hospitality for the uprooted is a way to live out the biblical call to love the neighbor in response to God’s love in Jesus Christ. They recall for us God’s command to Israel: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34). They direct us to where Jesus said he is present: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25: 35). They call on Martin Luther to ask us: “How do we know that the love of God dwells in us? If we take upon ourselves the need of the neighbor.” Our desire is to carry on their faith and practice, their exemplary way of faith being active in love. “We pledge to continue our church’s historic leadership in caring for refugees and immigrants.”
HCR 2060, and policies like it, sow fear in the hearts of many Arizonans. These types of laws are responsible for upending lives and tearing apart families. The American immigration system is deeply complicated and incredibly difficult to navigate; these laws also target and hurt people who are stuck in limbo while trying to improve life for themselves and their families. Even American citizens, particularly those of color, of Latine decent, and naturalized citizens, are hurt by policies like this and the racial profiling they can lead to.
Many experts agree that law enforcement agencies in Arizona don’t have the capacity to take on the additional work or space to accommodate the additional detainees that would result from making illegal immigration a state crime. Implementing HCR 2060 would mean an increased cost for tax payers all over the state.
This bill is opposed by a host of community organizations, including the Arizona Faith Network , Chicanos por la Causa, and Living United for Change in Arizona.
What Can You Do?
HCR 2060 has the potential to do a great deal of harm in our state. As it will soon be voted on in the Senate and the House, we hope you will join us in urging our state legislators to oppose it.
Register against the bill with your Request to Speak account. See this week’s RTS action alert for a how-to!
In the RTS system, there are five times as many people opposing this bill as supporting it, but that hasn’t slowed down its progress. We also encourage you to write to your state senator.
You can find the contact information for your state senator here. Please email or call their office and urge them to vote ‘No’ when this bill goes to the Senate floor.
Thank you for your advocacy!
