lawful presence; e-verify program; penalties

This bill, known as the Secure the Border Act, seeks to address concerns about border security by empowering law enforcement to arrest individuals who cross Arizona's southern border without using official ports of entry. It requires state agencies to verify the legal status of non-citizens applying for public benefits using a federal database and imposes felony penalties for knowingly submitting false documents to obtain such benefits. Additionally, the legislation creates a specific crime for selling fentanyl that results in death, aiming to increase penalties for drug-related offenses linked to the border crisis.