About 50 protesters marched on the steps of the Capitol on Monday in Phoenix chanting “boycott racism” to rally against bills they consider onerous to immigrants making their way through the Legislature.
The group demanded to speak with lawmakers considering the measures, which include Senate Bill 1017, which would weaken attempts by Arizona cities, including Phoenix, to adopt their own IDs.
Francisca Porchas with the immigrants rights group Puente Arizona said that and other bills being proposed would infringe upon their civil liberties and pose unnecessarily harsh penalties.
“(Sentate Bill) 1017 is the first one to hit the floor out of five anti-immigrant bills. These bills essentially ... would make it so that undocumented people would serve the maximum amount of jail time if they commit misdemeanors or felonies," Porchas said.
Porchas also said the group is also opposed to bills that would penalize so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state for giving refuge to the undocumented by withholding funds.
