Southern Arizona counties may need to hire more officers if voters pass HCR 2060

(The Center Square) – A likely ballot referral related to the border could lead to significant changes in local law enforcement strategy if it’s passed into law.

The “Secure the Border Act” or House Concurrent Resolution 2060 would make it a state crime for people to come into Arizona unless it’s through a legal port of entry, which would give law enforcement at the state, local and county levels the ability to arrest somebody for doing so.

Republican lawmakers and law enforcement stakeholders held at news conference at the state capitol on Wednesday, during which The Center Square asked about how this could influence hiring practices and local operations along the border.

“We’re trying to create a deterrent. As far as Cochise County, I have no doubt that they’re going to have to hire more deputies, more detention staff, have more resources,” Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, who’s president of the Arizona Sheriffs Association said. “Pima County, Santa Cruz, Yuma – everybody needs to understand that. But it’s not clear right now, we’ll have to wait and work through that.”

The Center Square reported from Cochise County in March on the local operations that are taking place to monitor for illegal crossings, even though it is primarily the federal government’s responsibility to deal with the issue.

The resolution’s “strike everything” amendment” is being considered by a joint committee of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety and Border Security and the House Committee on Judiciary, in which the new language of the bill is expected to be adopted. At the time of publication, the amendment is still being discussed.

Meanwhile, Arizona Democrats have raised concern about racial profiling in the possible execution of the proposals outlined in the legislation, even equating it to Senate Bill 1070 from 2010. Gov. Katie Hobbs referred to it as a “job-killing, anti-business ballot initiative" on Wednesday in a statement.