State of Outrage: Immigrant-Related Legislation and Education in Arizona

Abstract

In April 2010, Arizona made national headlines when Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070, the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” which was aimed at deterring illegal immigration to Arizona. SB 1070 is the most prominent of a series of laws and other state policies targeting immigrants in Arizona that date back to the late 1990s. This period of active legislating coincides with a dramatic increase in the state’s Hispanic population. In this paper, we provide an analysis of the state laws that have influenced the educational experiences of immigrants in Arizona passed during this period: Proposition 203 and HB 2064 (Bilingual Education), HB 2281 (Ethnic Studies Courses), and Proposition 300 (Higher Education and Adult Education).