Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference Statement on Veto of SB 1231

As Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference, we share the frustration of many about the situation at the border. The lack of a federal solution to the challenges faced by both vulnerable people and American communities is sorely needed and long overdue. 

It is not right that inaction by the federal government has resulted in heavy burdens on states and communities along the US-Mexico border. This failure has resulted in not only an overwhelmingly large numbers of migrants wanting to cross the border, but also an unacceptable number of migrant deaths.

We do not intend to question the good intentions of lawmakers who seek to address these challenges. Nonetheless, we contend that SB 1231 is not the appropriate response and will have painful unanticipated consequences.

We are particularly concerned with upholding the rights and dignity of every person, especially families looking to remain safely together. Furthermore, actions by local law enforcement officers to enforce immigration laws, as proposed by SB 1231, threaten to undermine community trust of the police and will result in more dangerous neighborhoods.

The federal government needs to do a better job of managing our national border and providing comprehensive immigration reform. Proposals such as SB 1231, however, are unlikely to survive legal challenges and are not the right solution. Consequently, we appreciate Governor Hobbs’ veto of this measure. 

Most Rev. John P. Dolan 
Bishop of Phoenix

Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger 
Bishop of Tucson

Most Rev. James S. Wall
Bishop of Gallup

 Most Rev. Eduardo Nevares
 Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix