Arizona lawmakers have passed SB 1152, a major immigration accountability measure that ensures state and local public benefits are reserved for those legally entitled to receive them.
SB 1152 makes clear that a person with a pending asylum application before an immigration court is not eligible to receive state or local public benefits until asylum is formally granted by an immigration judge. That means taxpayer-funded grants, welfare programs, housing assistance, unemployment benefits, and similar aid will no longer be available to individuals whose immigration status has not yet been approved.
Arizona law already requires agencies to verify immigration status before issuing benefits. SB 1152 strengthens that framework by closing a loophole that allowed individuals with pending asylum claims to access state-funded assistance before their cases were decided. This bill reinforces the principle that public benefits funded by Arizona taxpayers must be reserved for lawful residents and citizens.
The legislation also requires a three-fourths vote of both chambers under Proposition 105 for enactment, underscoring the seriousness of altering voter-approved public benefits statutes. With its passage, lawmakers have sent a clear message: Arizona will not subsidize unlawful immigration through state-funded programs.
SB 1152 protects limited public resources and prioritizes the needs of Arizonans. At a time when border security remains a national crisis, this legislation ensures Arizona’s safety net is not stretched beyond its intended purpose.