Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, along with the state’s Democratic Latino caucus, has issued a joint statement opposing a Republican-backed ballot referral, HCR2060.

The measure, expected to be voted on by the Senate, has drawn criticism from multiple bipartisan organizations and is accused of threatening jobs, businesses, and communities of color in Arizona.

The statement highlighted serious concerns about the potential impacts of HCR2060. It is argued that the measure will impede law enforcement efforts against violent crimes, impose significant financial burdens on state and local governments, tarnish Arizona’s reputation, and provoke racial profiling.

Apart from these allegations, the statement also warns about the social and economic harm that the measure may bring about, particularly by separating families and causing distress, especially among children. The parties also criticized the bill for its potential to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, thereby impacting “Dreamers” who have legally attained this status.

Though Governor Hobbs and the Latino caucus agree on the need to strengthen border security, they criticized the approach adopted by Congress earlier this year, stating that a more supportive deal for law enforcement and migrant management was thwarted for partisan reasons.

The statement accuses “radicals in the state legislature” of playing politics at the expense of Arizonans and calls for a more “safe, secure and humane environment at the border.”

On her official Facebook page, Hobbs shared the full statement, adding, “HCR2060 will kill-jobs, make it harder for law enforcement to keep us safe and will vilify communities of color. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe, secure & humane environment at the border to fix the crisis on our hands, but this referral is not the answer.”