NO ON 200 KEY MESSAGES/LATINO FOCUS (for internal use) 1) Proposition 200 will not stop a one single
person from crossing Arizona’s border, arrest one smuggler, or stop one death in the desert. But it could stop real reforms that will fix our broken immigration system.
• •
•
Even the proponents of this measure have acknowledged it: Proposition 200 will do nothing to stop illegal immigration. However, the unintended consequence of Prop 200 is that it will send the wrong message to Washington, D.C. A message which could scare off our nation’s elected leaders from having the fortitude to pass real and thoughtful immigration reform. Real reforms that would stem the tide of illegal immigration and make immigration safe, legal, and orderly, a process to legally bring immigrants into our country. The message we as a state need to collectively send to Washington is to fix the system; finish work on existing legislation that will truly strengthen our border and immigration policies, including reimbursements to Arizona for costs associated with illegal immigration.
•
3)
•
•
• 2) Proposition 200 is so poorly drafted that it
would put police, fire, and paramedics under a legal cloud in carrying out their duties as public servants.
•
•
Law enforcement, first responders, state and local officials have carefully analyzed the initiative, and are terrified of the consequences. That is why firefighters and police are strongly opposed to Proposition 200. That is why the governor, leading mayors, and the entire Arizona Congressional delegation opposes Prop 200. Under Proposition 200 every one would have to prove legal status before receiving any public service. Will the senior citizen who calls 911 with chest pains be able to produce the documents that they are a legal resident? Plus, under Prop 200 public servants can be sued, and charged with a class 2 misdemeanor with up to 4 months in jail for providing the public service to a non citizen.
Proposition 200 is a full employment act for lawyers. If it passes, countless lawsuits will flood our courts and judges will have to sort out the mess and chaos. Let’s not take a chance on a sloppily drafted law that will make it harder for our police, fire and paramedic professionals to do their jobs. Proposition 200 won’t save money, it will cost money. It will drive up government spending by creating costly mandates, which will end up taking needed resources away education, healthcare, and services to children and the elderly. According to state officials, it will cost more than $100 million to implement the farreaching policies and new oversight requirements required by Proposition 200. That doesn’t even include local spending needed to comply with the law. Who will pay this increase in government spending? You and I, the Arizona taxpayer. Instead of spending taxpayer’s money on education, health care, and help for our elders and our kids, we will be diverting those dollars to pay to implement and coordinate the new law. Some think the state will need a new state agency whose entire function would be to ensure compliance with the law by citizens and government services. Voting No on 200 is the only way to make sure we do not waste millions of taxpayer’s dollars to fund new bureaucracies.
4) Our hardworking, taxpaying community will
suffer the most if Proposition 200 become law. We will be treated with suspicion every time we use any public services.
•
Our community works hard, pays taxes, contributes to the economy, and defends this nation in our armed forces. We deserve equal treatment in law and in practice. But if Prop 200 passes, anyone who “looks like” or “sounds like” an immigrant – whether we have been here 5 generations or 5 years – will be treated with suspicion every time we use any public services.