Candidates for Arizona’s congressional special election have a lot to say about issues affecting the country. That includes the issue of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids to detain immigrants who are in the nation illegally.
The special election is scheduled for Sept. 23. However, early voting begins Wednesday.
Speaking Tuesday evening in the 7th Congressional District debate hosted by the Arizona Media Association and the Local News Foundation, Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, said immigrants are contributing to their communities and the economy. A Democrat, Grijalva went on to say that what ICE is doing is inhumane and should be intolerable.
“I’m very frightened of what it’s going to look like next year when ICE’s budget is not double but 20 times what it is right now. Immigrants generate $71 billion in annual economic output, and in Arizona alone, it’s $704 million each year in state and local taxes in Arizona,” said Grijalva, who is running for the seat that became vacant when her father died in March after a battle with cancer.
If elected, Grijalva promised to “fight for comprehensive humane immigration reform with pathways to citizenship.”
Daniel Butierez, the Republican candidate, said he also believes the country needs immigration reform. However, Butierez did not blame ICE
