Bill in Arizona Would Authorize Shooting Immigrants on Private Properties

A bill in the state of Arizona could authorize ranch owners to shoot undocumented immigrants crossing their lands.

The House Bill 2843 (HB 2843) proposes modifying the Castle Doctrine to thus move from the threat to the authorization of the use of lethal force against anyone who invades their land, including migrants.

A person or their agent in legal possession or control of a premise is justified to threaten to use lethal physical force or to threaten or use physical force against another person when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe it immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a criminal offense by the other person within or upon the premises.

And although its Section B indicates that it would only be in self-defense or defense of others, it presents a measure highly questioned by many.

If approved, anyone who trespasses without authorization onto a property or structure that has been adapted for temporary or permanent residence, whether occupied or not, could be shot by the property owner in question.

The measure, pushed by Republican Justin Heap, has already been labeled as inhumane and directly targets Latin immigration.

The controversy over the new proposal occurs while several radical measures to curb the migratory flow in the state were recently approved.

In the same context, a trial against George Alan Kelly, a 73-year-old rancher, will take place on March 21st, for the charge of second-degree homicide.

The rancher had fired at a group of migrants crossing his ranch on the outskirts of Nogales, causing the death of one of them last January.

The proposal has already been approved by the Lower House and has now moved to the state Senate; however, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs promised to veto it if it is approved.