2 Arizona lawmakers to debate Proposition 314, the GOP-devised immigration ballot measure

Arizona lawmakers will appear Thursday in a livestreamed debate over a Republican-devised migration control measure voters will see on the ballot this November.

The Secure the Border Act, which will appear on ballots as Proposition 314, drew raucous and biting criticism by opponents before Republicans passed it on party lines earlier this year . It didn't require the signature of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs as a legislative ballot referral, but voters still need to decide whether it should become state law.

The Arizona Media Association is hosting the debate, estimated to be an hour long. Longtime Republican Sen. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, a former East Coast peace officer, will argue for the measure. Rep. Analise Ortiz — a Phoenix Democrat and former American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona strategist who's set to join Kavanagh in the state Senate next year — will provide the counterpoint.

The measure would do several things Republicans believe will help with border problems. Its prime feature would make crossing the border illegally a state-prosecutable misdemeanor, allowing local and state police to detain and arrest migrants and local judges to dismiss charges when migrants self-deport. Those provisions couldn't take effect until a similar law in Texas has been in effect for at least 60 days. The Texas law is mired in litigation after being sued by the Biden administration.

Additionally, the measure would make it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to submit false information to obtain federal benefits, and boost state use of federal programs to stymie ineligible immigrants from collecting state benefits. It would also increase the time in prison for people who sell fentanyl that kills someone.

Opponents have compared the measure to SB 1070, a 2010 anti-illegal immigration measure despised by civil rights organizations and partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional. Critics worry police would stretch the law's authority in a way that discriminates against the state's Latino residents, despite efforts in the legislative process to address those concerns.

Some police and sheriff's agencies protested the unfunded mandate for enforcement efforts inherent in the measure.

Viewers can watch the live debate starting at 6 p.m. on azcentral.com