Republicans seek to insert sanctuary city ban in Arizona Constitution

Gov. Doug Ducey called for constitutional ban in his State of the State address

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Republicans in the Arizona Legislature want voters to insert a ban on "sanctuary city" policies in the state Constitution.

Republican Governor Doug Ducey called for the constitutional amendment in his State of the State address last month. Wednesday, Rep. T.J. Shope, (R) District 8, officially introduced the measure in the legislature.

Sanctuary policies generally bar local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement agencies. Such policies are already illegal under Arizona state law. The new measure would ask voters to write the ban into the state Constitution.

Rep. Randall Friese, (D) District 9, calls the referendum an effort to raise Republican voter turnout in the upcoming November election.