Tucson voters soundly reject 'sanctuary city' initiative

[Ptah]

TUCSON, Ariz. — Tucson will not become Arizona's first sanctuary city after voters rejected Prop 205 Tuesday night.

The ballot measure was soundly rejected by 71.4 percent of voters in Tucson, according to unofficial election results released by the city, with all precincts reporting. Some remaining ballots will be counted in the coming days.

The group Tucson Families Free and Together spearheaded the ballot initiative earlier this year, collecting thousands of signatures in the city. Despite several attempts to block the measure from appearing on Tuesday's ballot, their efforts were ultimately successful.

The measure was widely opposed by local leaders including the Pima County Sheriff, Tucson Police officials and Tucson's largely Democratic city council and mayor.


https://www.kgun9.com/news/political/elections-local/tucson-voters-soundly-reject-sanctuary-city-initiative

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Sad. When I lived in Tucson, almost 30 years ago, it was a

very welcoming and supporting city.

[Ptah]

2. Tucson still is a very welcoming and supporting city.

[Kali]

3. ugh, dissapointing, but there was some reasoning for leaders opposition.

saw one nasty person with an anti sign at Clements yesterday, was going to take her picture after I got out of the pool but she was gone. should have taken it on the way in but I got waylaid by a petition gatherer.

from a related article - https://www.kgun9.com/news/national/tucson-could-become-arizonas-first-sanctuary-city-heres-what-that-means

Why are some Democrats opposed to the move?
A long-standing stereotype of sanctuary city measures is that Democrats only, and always, support the designation. But that's not always the case.

Tucson's mayor and city council members, all of whom are Democrats, oppose Prop 205 because they fear losing state and federal funding. They and others in Arizona say Tucson is already a welcoming place for immigrants, and writing it into law would only jeopardize the city.

A 2010 immigration law in the state, known as SB1070, prohibits sanctuary cities in Arizona and requires police to verify the immigration status of anyone suspected of being in the country illegally when enforcing other laws. A lot of the law wasn't upheld by the courts, but the requirement asking officers to check immigration papers is still in effect.

Approving Proposition 205 could put the state in jeopardy with regards to funding because of this law, according to some city officials.