Legal fight continues with appeals over proposed immigration initiative for Arizona Nov. 5 ballot

The fight to keep a proposed border initiative off Arizona’s Nov. 5 ballot is not over yet.Immigrant advocates kept the issue alive this week by filing notice to the state Supreme Court that they will appeal the judge’s ruling. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on July 12 rejected an effort by the advocates to keep the proposed initiative off the ballot. The advocates argue that the measure breaks the rules because it deals with more than a single subject. Attorney Andy Gaona, who represents some of the groups, was working Friday on legal briefs in the case that he filed later in the day. The Legislature will have until July 26 to respond, he said. The GOP-controlled Legislative in early June voted to allow to proposal to be placed on the ballot, asking voters if local law enforcement should be allowed to arrest migrants who cross illegally from Mexico into Arizona between ports of entry. The measure would also give state judges the power to order people convicted of the offense to return to their countries of origin. It is similar to a Texas law that has been put on hold by a federal appeals court while it is being challenged.Arizona’s proposal would also make it a felony punishable by 10 years of imprisonment for selling fentanyl that leads to a person’s death. Also included is a requirement that some government agencies use a federal database to verify a noncitizen’s eligibility for benefits