Prop 314’s unfunded mandate will cost Arizona taxpayers $325 million each year, strain public safety budgets, spread fear in Arizona communities and hurt the economy
Sheriff David Hathaway, Santa Cruz County: “It would create a huge burden on Arizona taxpayers.”
PHOENIX — Yesterday at the Arizona State Capitol, a broad coalition of law enforcement officials, business leaders, elected representatives, education advocates, and community organizers gathered to sound the alarm over Proposition 314. They urged Arizonans to vote “no” this November, warning that the measure would jeopardize Arizona’s economic stability and public safety.
Prop 314’s financial burden would have wide-ranging consequences for Arizona’s economy and public safety. Sheriff David Hathaway of Santa Cruz County explained how the increased costs associated with deputizing local law enforcement to act as immigration enforcement under Prop 314 would divert resources from essential services like crime prevention and emergency response. This shift would likely lead to an increase in racial profiling and spread fear among immigrant communities, further undermining public safety and trust.
Speakers from the business community highlighted how Prop 314 would create new barriers to employment for Arizona’s 135,000 mixed-status families—immigrants who are essential to the workforce and represent 16.2 percent of the state’s labor force. By threatening vital industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, Prop 314 poses significant risks to the state’s economy. Education leaders also expressed concerns about the negative impact on young Arizonans, whose families could be directly targeted, further contributing to instability in their lives.
The nonpartisan Grand Canyon Institute estimated the cost of this ballot referral at $325 million a year, while the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) projects “significant operational and fiscal impacts to the agency.”
Here’s what these community leaders had to say about the potential consequences of implementing Prop 314:
Sheriff David Hathaway, Santa Cruz County, stated: “Now let me talk a little bit about my county, Santa Cruz County. It’s a county right on the Mexican border. I am the sheriff of the border county that has the largest ports of entry with Mexico. The largest city in my county, Nogales, Arizona, is 95 percent Hispanic. Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be if I went to practically every person in Santa Cruz County and said, ‘Show me your papers. Prove to me that you’re here legitimately?’” Hathaway continued, “There is no embedded funding for [Prop 314]. I run a jail, and we would be taking in prisoners with no additional funding to prosecute those prisoners. The prosecutor’s office, the county attorney, and the state prosecutors would also be obligated to prosecute these cases with no additional funding. Other support staff, like probation officers, parole officers, and the Arizona Department of Corrections, have stated that if these people were convicted, they would go into the state prisons. There is no additional funding for that. It would create a huge burden on Arizona taxpayers.”
“As ballots went out yesterday, much of the country is watching us here in Arizona, and the way that we respond in the coming weeks matters,” said Senator Flavio Bravo, who expressed his gratitude for Sheriff Hathaway’s insights: “I just want to thank the sheriff for explaining how immigration is a federal issue. We want to see change. We want to see federal reform, but [Prop 314] is not the way.”
“I am asking everyone who is watching today to please vote ‘No’ on Proposition 314. It is unconstitutional, a waste of taxpayer money, and will do nothing to actually secure our border,” said Representative Analise Ortiz. “Prop 314 is guaranteed to make our communities less safe, as we heard from the sheriff and other local law enforcement, including those who testified before our committee. They made it clear we don’t have the resources for this. By diverting local cops to duplicate the job of border patrol, how many robberies, assaults, or other crimes will go uninvestigated? And how many people from mixed-status families will be afraid to call the police? This is not what public safety looks like.”
“Proposition 314 isn’t just a bad proposition, it’s bad public policy,” said Phoenix City Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira. “Prop 314 will adversely impact local governments, leaving cities like Phoenix to carry the financial and social burdens without additional resources—none, ‘nada.’ Instituting Prop 314 will have a boiling effect on cities across Arizona, and our state’s brand will once again take the hit. As a city leader, I’m voting ‘No’ on 314. The price is too high, both economically and morally. I call on voters across Arizona to reject Proposition 314.”
Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, emphasized: “The business community should be aware of four things. First, the cost to implement this measure is estimated at $325 million per year, not including the inevitable litigation for constitutional challenges and human rights violations. Second, workforce shortages will be exacerbated. In June, there were 197,000 open positions in Arizona. This will only make that worse. We have members at the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and business organizations across the state screaming, ‘We can’t apply for contracts; we can’t fulfill contracts.’ That becomes a domino effect. When you don’t have enough workers, you exacerbate the workforce shortage. In areas like construction, this leads to a decrease in housing—today there are only 26 units for every 100 renters. That means homelessness gets worse, poverty gets worse—things we cannot afford in Arizona.” Villalobos continued, “Let me be clear on the fentanyl issue. This measure attempts to connect immigrants with fentanyl pouring into the U.S. What we know is that 85 to 90 percent of fentanyl is smuggled by U.S. citizens at legal ports of entry. This measure would take resources away from those legal ports of entry, where we know fentanyl is actually entering. Finally, this is bad for our state brand. We’ve seen this before—14 years ago with SB 1070. We cannot afford the boycotts or the businesses that will turn away from Arizona because of these ugly issues.”
Irayda Flores, President and CEO of El Mar de Cortez Corp., stated: “I own a very successful wholesale and retail seafood business. I have created many jobs right here in this country. I am truly a living example of the American dream and of the potential immigrants have for our communities and economy. But there are many more stories like mine.” Flores added, “Arizona faces a significant labor shortage, with 71 people available for every 100 job openings. Arizona’s economy simply cannot function without the hard work and entrepreneurship of our immigrant community. This harmful proposition is going to drive workers out of the state. So please, do not vote for Prop 314—we will be in a world of hurt.”
Dr. Cecilia Maes, Superintendent of Alhambra School District, emphasized: “The stakes are high. If passed, Proposition 314 will not only harm the academic success of our students but also undermine the social fabric of our schools and communities. The long-term impact could leave a generation of Arizona’s youth with fewer opportunities and a weakened foundation for their future. Now more than ever, we must work together to protect the well-being of our children and ensure that schools remain places of safety, learning, and growth. Let’s prioritize education, not fear, and stand up for the future of our students.”
“Our schools should be sanctuaries, not battlegrounds. They should be places where every child can learn without the burden of prejudice weighing them down. When we teach our children to see each other through the lens of fear, we rob them of the opportunity to grow into compassionate understanding,” said Violeta Ramos, School Board Member, Osborn School District. “We cannot stand idly while fear is used as a weapon to divide us. We must come together to affirm that our schools are places of unity, justice and respect. By rejecting Proposition 314, we affirm our commitment to creating a future where all students can flourish, free from the shackles of fear and prejudice.”
“This measure threatens an increase in immigration enforcement activity in and around schools. It risks turning our classrooms into checkpoints, instilling our school system with fear for all students, including students of immigrant families. […] This measure does not come with any exemptions for sacred spaces within our community, schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship,” said Jeff Zetino, VP Policy & Advocacy, ALL In Education. “These very sensitive locations, in our community, represent the heart of our community, and they should never be forced to become an extension of law enforcement. It degrades the social fabric within our state. I urge all Arizonans and lawmakers to strongly reject Proposition 314.”
“Lawmakers and proponents of this law, both behind closed doors and in front of closed doors, have said that they know this ballot measure is unconstitutional. They only did it to rile up their base,” said Jose Patiño, VP of Education & External Affairs, Aliento. “Are you going to separate families? […] Are we going to traumatize children because some individuals fear that they cannot win elections on their own merits, so they create this fear mongering? […] As Arizonans, you have to decide, do we want to go back to 14 years ago?”
“This broad coalition, spanning business, faith, law enforcement and community groups, stands united in opposition to Prop 314 because it threatens everything we care about: a strong economy, safe communities and responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” said Enrique Sanchez, Intermountain State Director, ABIC Action. “We’re calling on Arizona voters to join us in rejecting Proposition 314.”