Two bills that would drastically change the way Arizona deals with illegal immigration are being voted on in the state Senate today.
The first bill, introduced by Rep. Tom Boone, R-District 4, which includes Surprise and Peoria, would prevent any university or community college from enrolling people who are not U.S. citizens or are not able to prove they are legally in the country.
It also stipulates that each university and community college annually report to the Legislature the number of people who are denied enrollment because of their immigration status.
The other bill would stop any city or county from funding work centers that could help illegal immigrants find employment.
Rep. Colette Rosati, R-Scottsdale, who introduced the bill, told the The State Press in April she does not want tax dollars to be used toward centers that allow anyone to arrive in the morning and be hired for the day.
"They [the state] take your money against your will and use it for illegals," Rosati said.
In response to both bills, protesters marched to the Capitol two weeks ago to garner public support against them.
ASU students from No More Deaths, MEChA and The Alliance of Multicultural Student Activists were involved in the march.
Silvia Muller, a member of AMSE, volunteers at the Macehualli Work Center, which has been a focal point for lawmakers.
Muller said neither bill would solve the illegal immigration problem because immigrants could still get jobs by standing on street corners if centers were shut down.
Immigrants are also giving back to Arizona because they pay sales tax on all the products they purchase, she added.
"You can't say illegals don't contribute," she said.
Reach the reporter at michael.famiglietti@asu.edu.
