Arizona's Democrat Governor VETOS law that would have made unauthorized border crossing a crime punishable by six months behind bars saying Republican backed-bill did not 'secure' the state

Arizona's Democrat Governor has vetoed a law that would have made unauthorized border crossings a crime punishable by six months behind bars.

In a Monday letter, Katie Hobbs, rejected the Republican backed-bill and said that it did not 'secure' the border that runs along the state. 

The bill would have imprisoned offenders for no more than six months for their first offense, and no more than two years for following offenses. 

It would have also banned 'eluding examination of inspection by immigration officers' and 'attempting to enter or obtain entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact.' 

In response to Hobbs' decision, Republicans in the state's senate criticized her veto. 

State Senator Janae Shamp said: 'The Legislature did its job to protect our citizens, but Governor Hobbs failed to do hers.' 

In a letter on Monday, Katie Hobbs, rejected a Republican backed-bill that would have made unauthorized border crossings in Arizona a crime punishable by six months behind bars, and said it did not 'secure' the state

Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the US-Mexico border in December in Lukeville, Arizona

The Lukeville crossing was initially shut down in December in an effort to reduce the surge in migrant crossings, but was opened again in January

'Vetoing the Arizona Border Invasion Act is a prime example of the chaos Hobbs is unleashing in our state while perpetuating this open border crisis as Biden's accomplice.' 

Hobbs tried to explain the reasons behind her veto - one that came despite the flood of migrants that have entered the US via the Southern border since President Joe Biden took office. 

Arizona has encountered 250,611 migrant crossings since October, according to US Customs and Border Protection. 

'Today, I vetoed Senate Bill 1232. This bill does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state, and burdensome for law enforcement personnel and the state judicial system,' Hobbs wrote. 

'Further, this bill presents significant constitutional concerns and would be certain to mire the State in costly and protracted litigation.' 

Locals took to social media to voice their reaction to Hobbs' veto as one said: 'We need to protect our state's border! I'm tired of the political politics! Do something!!!!!' 

'Do nothing Hobbs at it again,' another said.  

'It's no longer a matter of closing borders, we need to enforce the laws we currently have,' another commenter posted. 

Hobbs previously called out Biden for failing to secure the southern border, and federal reimbursement for the state's spending on the crisis.

Hobbs tried to explain the reasons behind her veto - one that came despite the flood of migrants that have entered the US via the Southern border since President Joe Biden took office 

Hobbs previously called out Biden for failing to secure the southern border, and sought half a billion dollars in federal reimbursement for the state's spending on the crisis

The Lukeville crossing was initially shut down in December in an effort to reduce the surge in migrant crossings, but was opened again in January. The desolate area around the remote crossing has become a global migration route in recent months

In a letter, the governor requested more than $512million in federal funds to reimburse state spending on migrant transport, drug interdiction, and law enforcement 'due to the federal government's failure to secure our border.' 

Hobbs then slammed the closing of the Lukeville, Arizona, crossing, saying it 'has led to an unmitigated humanitarian crisis in the area and has put Arizona's safety and commerce at risk.'

'Our ports of entry are essential to our state and our country's economy, and it is vial that they be properly staffed and resourced to continue to fuel economic growth in the state,' she added.

Hobbs called for National Guard members who are currently on active federal duty be mobilized to assist border agents in manning the Lukeville crossing, so it can be reopened.

The Lukeville crossing was initially shut down in December in an effort to reduce the surge in migrant crossings, but was opened again in January. 

According to the US Department of Transportation, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people a day have crossed north at the Lukeville Port of Entry.   

The desolate area around the remote crossing has become a global migration route in recent months, with smugglers dropping off people from countries like Senegal, India and China.

Most of the migrants are walking into the US west of Lukeville through gaps in the wall, then turn east toward the official border crossing to surrender to the first agents they see to claim asylum

Most of them are walking into the US west of Lukeville through gaps in the wall, then turn east toward the official border crossing to surrender to the first agents they see to claim asylum, according to the Associated Press. 

In a statement, CBP said it was 'surging all available resources to expeditiously and safely process migrants' and will 'continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation.' 

The agency blamed the hundreds of people arriving daily around Lukeville on 'smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals.' 

Alongside Governor Hobbs, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema have slammed the Lukeville closure and demanded better solutions from Biden's administration.

'This is an an unacceptable outcome that further destabilizes our border, risks the safety of our communities, and damages our economy by disrupting trade and tourism,' they said in a joint statement. 

An average of 3,140 people in vehicles and 184 pedestrians entered the US daily in Lukeville during October, according to the US Transportation Department. 

When it was closed, travelers were still be able to cross into or out of the United States through Nogales, Arizona, a three-hour drive to the east. They were also allowed to go through San Luis, a two-hour drive to the west.

Immigrants from the west African nation of Guinea are seen striking a celebratory pose after they crossed the US- Mexico border on December 07, 2023 in Lukeville, Arizona

Hobbs called for National Guard members who are currently on active federal duty be mobilized to assist border agents in manning the Lukeville crossing, so it can be reopened. Pictured: Migrants are processed near Lukeville

More than 8million asylum seekers will soon live in the US - a 167% increase in five years. 

The vast majority of the 8million are now free to roam US streets, including 2 million 'high-priority' cases of career criminals seeking asylum. 

The system appears to be struggling to cope with the rapid numbers of migrants flowing across the border, which reached an all-time high of 302,000 monthly crossings in December. 

The backlog has left millions of migrants who are currently residing in the US, unsure of whether they will be permitted to stay or simply be deported. 

Former President Donald Trump has highlighted the Biden Administration's ineffectiveness at dealing with the problem as a campaign issue. 

Republicans are continuing to push for an increased amount of migrants to be detained and deported just as ICE is forced to contemplate cutbacks.