Proposal to ban sanctuary cities sees opposition from Arizona businesses

PHOENIX — When it comes to controversial sanctuary city policies, a coalition of Arizona small businesses is taking a stand.

“Local First Arizona,” a group of roughly 3,000 local businesses, have voiced their opposition to SCR 1007 and HCR 2036 in a press release.

The controversial proposals are currently undergoing fierce debate in Arizona’s state legislature, and would prohibit localities and cities from self-designating themselves as “sanctuaries” for those who enter the country illegally.

Local First Arizona regards the measures as “unnecessary” since such action is “already prohibited under existing state legilsation,” according to the release.

Among Local First Arizona’s allies in this fight is Democratic Party presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who took to Twitter to oppose the GOP-backed proposal:

This dangerous bill would separate families, scapegoat immigrant communities, and pit Arizonans against each other. I stand with the activists and organizations fighting to stop SCR1007. https://t.co/2CpS7FFvbA

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 15, 2020

Concerned that these measures will mirror the negative effects of Arizona’s controversial 2010 SB 1070 legislation, the coalition insists: “These bills are bad for business.

“They will broadcast a negative image of Arizona that will inflict significant damage to our state’s fiscal opportunities and will haunt our tourism industry for decades to come.”

Local First Arizona was founded in 2003, and has since been advocating “for a strong and inclusive Arizona economy,” as stated in the release.

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