NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN) — More than 62% of Arizona voters said they want local law enforcement to be more involved in tracking down and arresting people who entered the United States illegally. Border sheriffs say it could overwhelm their departments.

Arizona voters called for major change in border enforcement with passage Prop 314. They made illegal immigration a state crime as well as a federal crime. This creates some challenges for local law enforcement.

Immigration law is a federal law, enforced by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But Arizona lawmakers said federal law enforcement was overwhelmed, so they introduced a ballot proposal called Prop 314 — and voters approved it by a wide margin.

But in Santa Cruz County, Sheriff David Hathaway says he only has 40 deputies and they have their hands full with violent and property crimes.

The sheriff says it’s just not practical to constantly check people to make sure they are in the United States legally.

“My community is 95% Hispanic. This means that 95% of people here speak Spanish. They have Hispanic last names like Martinez, Rodriguez, Hernandez, they have Hispanic physical characteristics. So what am I going to do? Am I going to be like, Hey, show me your papers for pretty much everyone who lives in this community.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels says the vote to approve Proposition 314 tells him it’s the will of the people, but doesn’t tell him how to stop it from overwhelming Cochise County law enforcement. Cochise.

He says Arizona sheriffs are asking Congress and state government who will cover the cost of Proposition 314.

“We just had a meeting Monday with the Governor’s team, and I asked this question again, what happens if this passes? So this is on the governor’s desk, so we’re now waiting to find out what’s going to happen.

Sheriff Hathaway says the language in Proposition 314 indicates it will not go into effect until the courts decide whether the Texas law it is based on is constitutional and that it is not clear when this judicial test will take place.