As the surge of illegal immigration continues, and the associated crime increases in rural communities in southern Arizona, State Senators Janae Shamp and David Gowan are introducing legislation in the hope of providing law enforcement agencies the support they need to tackle the threats.
The “Arizona Border Invasion Act,” sponsored by Shamp, establishes in Arizona statute three border related crimes with subsequent punishments. Local, county, or state law enforcement officers would be granted the authority to arrest the following individuals:
• any non-US citizens who enter our state from anywhere but a lawful entrance point
• any non-US citizens who have been denied entry, or have already been removed from our country
• any non-US citizens who have been ordered to leave because of one of the above crimes but are refusing to comply with the order
Additionally, Senator Gowan’s “Aggravated Unlawful Flight” bill creates tougher penalties for drivers who endanger the life of another person while attempting to flee law enforcement, prompting a high-speed chase.
The bill also creates greater penalties against drivers who cause harm to another person during a high-speed chase, or those who are transporting a child under the age of 15.
“Joe Biden and his administration have made it unequivocally clear that they have abandoned their duties to enforce immigration policy at the federal level,” said Shamp in a press release. “As a result, our communities and our citizens are suffering the dire consequences of the lawlessness associated with tens of thousands of people, many of whom are criminals, illegally entering our state each month with no repercussions. It is our duty as state legislators to ensure the safety of our citizens and our law enforcement, which is why I’m calling on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation.”
“This is the worst border crisis in U.S. history. Our local sheriffs are overwhelmed, outnumbered, and their lives are in danger,” said Gowan in a press release. “Our communities are suffering from the deadly fentanyl, rapes, murders, high-speed chases, kidnappings, human smuggling, child sex trafficking, and other heinous crimes carried out by those who are entering our state illegally. We can’t just sit idly by and watch Biden’s border invasion destroy Arizona. I’m urging members of the Legislature to pass our bills and for the Governor to sign them. Lives are on the line, and the hands of our local law enforcement are currently tied.”