Republican state lawmakers favor blocking Santa Cruz County from receiving $250,000 in border security funding after the county sheriff said he would not enforce voter-approved border voting measures I cast my vote.
In September, Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway (D) told a Congressional committee: He did not intend to force Proposition 314.an Arizona ballot measure approved by voters two months later gives sheriffs the power to enforce immigration laws.
“You know, frankly, I don’t want to do it.” [Border Patrol’s] But they don’t want to do my job,” Hathaway told the House Homeland Security Committee.
State Sen. John Kavanaugh (R-Fountain Hills) asked the General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Budget Committee to remove Santa Cruz from the list of six counties slated to receive border security grants totaling $1 million. I quoted these comments at the time.
“So he’s expressed his hostility towards border security and ultimately said he doesn’t want to do the job, so we’re depriving him of funds that were meant for this,” Kavanaugh, the committee’s chairman, said in a statement. I don’t see any reason to hand it over.”
The Republican-led commission voted along party lines to do just that, sending $800,000 to five other rural communities, including non-border counties such as La Paz, Graham and Greenlee counties. approved the donation.
The funds in question are part of the Border Security and Law Enforcement Grant Program administered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Under state law, the department must get legislative approval before giving these funds to local sheriffs.
Democratic members of the committee criticized the decision, saying the grant funding predates Proposition 314.
“So if we eliminate Santa Cruz County, that means defunding the police,” said Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson). “This is the police. We’re literally going to defund Santa Cruz County by $250,000.”
Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D-Tucson), who represents part of Santa Cruz County, accused Republicans of conflating two separate issues. She said the county sheriff is already performing duties funded by a grant program separate from Prop. 314.
He called Proposition 314 an “unfunded mandate” because lawmakers did not include a funding mechanism when sending the proposal to voters. Even the sheriffs who supported the measure acknowledged that additional funding is needed to carry out the immigration enforcement duties included in the bill.
“Money from this fund has already been allocated to these counties and is being used widely,” she said.
Ms. Hathaway did not respond to a request for comment.
A draft letter sent to lawmakers by Santa Cruz County Mayor Jesus Valdez says the funding is “the cornerstone of the safety of our communities,” which includes two ports of entry. He said the grant would go towards funds used to protect border areas, including vehicles, technology, firearms and ammunition.
“Reductions in border security funding would exacerbate the already significant challenges associated with gang activity and transnational crime, which directly impact the safety and well-being of our populations,” the letter said.
Republicans on the committee left room for Santa Cruz County to recover the funds.
“Counties and sheriffs need to be on the same page and make a statement that they will enforce all state laws and implement specific funding for these things,” said U.S. Rep. David Livingston, vice chair of the joint session. (Republican, Peoria) said. Legislative Budget Committee.
Mr. Livingston, who will chair the committee next year, invited Mr. Hathaway to meet with him to further discuss the issue before deciding whether to restore the funding.
“The sheriff needs to correct these statements, and not enough people in the county are speaking out to correct them on behalf of the sheriff, because the sheriff is the elected official who made these statements. ,” Livingston said.
