SB 1070: Your State Still Can’t Afford It Attempts to Copy Arizona Immigration Law Run Into Harsh Reality of State Budget Crises, Uncooperative State Legislatures
Today, the National Immigration Forum released the report “In the States: Stepping into the Federal Void”, an update to their preliminary December report on attempts to copy Arizona’s controversial immigration law. Despite overwhelming evidence that laws like Arizona’s won’t solve the broken immigration system, some state legislators have forged ahead with SB 1070-style bills. Meanwhile others, acknowledging the costs and opposition from the business, law enforcement and faith communities, have abandoned attempts to pass harsh anti-immigrant legislation. Already, SB 1070-style legislation has been defeated or abandoned in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kentucky and South Dakota, and it’s on life support in Kansas. Strong leadership from several key state legislators has helped to defeat these bills and move the debate in a more constructive direction.
Already, 26 states are reporting billion dollar shortfalls for 2013, even as they try to close huge budget gaps for FY 2012. States couldn’t afford SB 1070-style laws in December, and they cannot afford them now. And opposition isn’t limited to concern about state budgets. Several legislators are rightfully worried about the overall cost to economic activity and the message Arizona-style legislation sends to tourists, investors, and visitors.
Passage of the bill caused irreparable damage to Arizona’s reputation. The state’s largest newspaper editorialized: “SB 1070 created such a noxious cloud of bad P.R. that Gov. Jan Brewer put $250,000 into repairing the state’s image…Arizona is getting a global brand, and it’s not the Grand Canyon State, but the place that is hostile to Hispanics and immigrants.” “Texas weathered the recession better than most states,” said Senator Leticia Van de Putte, a San Antonio Democrat, “And that’s because we welcome immigrants, investors, and tourists. Our explosive growth since the last Census is testament to our openness and business friendly policies. Laws like Arizona’s would chase jobs out of Texas, severely damage our multi-billion dollar tourism industry, and send the wrong message to the rest of the world.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement leaders have stepped up their opposition to harsh immigration laws like Arizona’s. “El Paso is already one of the safest cities in America,” said El Paso Sherriff Richard Wiles. “We don’t need counterproductive laws like Arizona’s that will make it harder for us to do our jobs and force us to do more with even fewer resources. I want my police officers focused on protecting communities and promoting public safety – not on enforcing federal immigration law. Our communities work with our officers to report and prevent crime, and that trust has made everyone safer. Laws like Arizona’s would destroy that trust.”
While some state legislators may still pass harsh anti-immigrant legislation, many of them have heeded Arizona’s cautionary tale. Strong leaders in state legislatures and in the business and law enforcement community have prevailed on elected officials the enormous costs and consequences of Arizona’s approach. With several sessions expiring in the coming months, it remains to be seen how many legislatures will listen to common sense voices and how many will step in to the federal void with foolish measures that will likely lead to prolonged court battles.
“Federal inaction on immigration has created a political and legal crisis and there is no excuse for continued delay,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Weak leadership and empty promises from Washington have forced unproductive and harsh debates in state legislatures, and until Congress acts, we’ll unfortunately see more attempts to pass fiscally and economically ruinous legislation like Arizona’s. States would be better served by pressuring their Congressional delegations to act immediately to solve this problem – at a federal level – once and for all.”
KJ