A bill moving in the Arizona Senate would require hospitals to ask new patients about their immigration status.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers, says answering the question would be optional and claims there would be “no immigration consequences.”
"It will help the state better calculate the cost of illegal alien health care. It does not, I’ll say again, it does not deny care to anyone," Rogers said.
Noah Schram with the ACLU of Arizona warned of unintended outcomes in a Monday committee hearing.
"Imagine, for example, that the data reveals that hospitals spend X amount on emergency care for undocumented immigrants, what happens then? Will funding be cut to these facilities? Will we see ICE agents, border patrol or state law enforcement stationed in hospitals?" Schram asked.
Opponents also say the bill would deter people from seeking medical care and lead to racial profiling.
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Republican Arizona lawmakers are pushing a bill that would ban state agencies and local governments from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials.
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In Phoenix, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Capitol carrying signs reading “No Kings” and “Resist Fascism.” Security barred protesters from entering the building after a few tried to get inside.
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Attention and money put toward mass deportations now is pulling resources away from special investigations, says Jason Houser, who served as chief of staff at ICE under part of the Biden administration.
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Jerry Sheridan was Arpaio’s chief deputy, he was implicated in the court case over the office’s racial profiling of Latinos in Maricopa County.
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Proposition 314 makes illegally crossing the border a crime in the state, allowing law enforcement to arrest migrants they have reason to believe committed it. But how could they enforce it without the funding?