Republican state senators are taking action against State Senator Analise Ortiz (D-Phoenix) after she alerted her followers on social media to the location of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Ortiz posted on her Instagram page, “There is confirmed HSI presence near 67th Ave and Peoria, behind the Walmart. Peoria Police are also involved. Many agents are not in uniform and vehicles may be unmarked. We are still working on getting full details, but out of caution, we advise those at risk of detention or deportation to avoid the area.”
State Senate President Warren Petersen called on the Department of Justice to investigate Ortiz (pictured above). “The comments made by Senator Ortiz are deeply troubling and do not reflect the position of the Arizona State Senate,” he said in a press release from Arizona Senate Republicans. “I spoke with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona and referred this matter to his office to investigate, as it appears she may be in violation of federal law. Arizona Senate Republicans stand firmly in support of ICE and the important work they do to uphold our nation’s immigration laws and protect our communities.”
Petersen told The Arizona Republic he believes Ortiz violated 18 U.S.C. § 111, which makes it a crime to interfere with law enforcement performing their official duties. The statute is written broadly, and includes opposing, impeding, intimidating, or resisting law enforcement. Petersen compared the situation to the charges filed against Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, who helped an illegal immigrant evade ICE.
State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) said he is filing an ethics complaint with the state legislature against Ortiz. “Democrat State Senator openly impeding ICE efforts to deport illegal alien criminals in AZ,” Hoffman posted on X. “She’s doxxing ICE agents & openly putting the lives of American law enforcement at risk. I’ll be filing an ethics complaint. She should be expelled from the Arizona legislature.”
Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller responded on X to the incident, “It is a class 5 felony to Obstruct Justice under ARS 13-2409 to ‘obstruct, delay or prevent the communication of information or testimony relating to a violation of any criminal statute to a peace officer, magistrate, prosecutor…’ This law will be enforced in Pinal County.”
The popular X account Libs of TikTok, which has 4.3 million followers, posted, “Arizona State Senator Analise Ortiz (D) is actively impeding and doxxing ICE by posting their live locations on instagram. Charge her.” The account tagged ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Border Czar Tom Homan.
Ortiz defended her post afterwards to 12News as free speech. “This is a protected First Amendment right that I have,” she said. “What we really need to remember is people suffering here.”
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes attacked Petersen for his post. “Warren Petersen is using his position as Sen. President to threaten and intimidate Sen. Analise Ortiz for exercising her 1st Amendment rights,” she said on X. “That’s not leadership — it’s bullying.”
Petersen, who is running for attorney general against Mayes, denounced Mayes for defending Ortiz. “Mayes is wrong on the facts and law again,” he shot back on X. “She investigated @realDonaldTrump for calling Liz Cheney a war hawk (legal) but she defends doxxing ICE agents (illegal) and undermining law enforcement. Totally incompetent! And as far as intimidation goes, she is the queen of weaponizing her office. Hypocrisy at its finest.”
State Representative John Gillette (R-Kingman) also responded to Mayes. “Maybe you need some CLE on Sec 8 of the USC,” he posted on X. “She admitted to federal crimes, and posted evidence as well.” Title 8 of U.S.C. addresses Aliens and Nationality.
He was responding to a post by Ortiz where she defended her actions to the Libs of TikTok account. “Yep. When ICE is around, I will alert my community to stay out of the area, and I’m not f***king scared of you nor Trump’s masked goons,” she said on X.
The second Trump administration is cracking down on state and local officials who impede efforts to deport illegal immigrants. The DOJ has threatened lawsuits against 35 cities, counties, and states accused of obstructing federal immigration efforts.
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Analise Ortiz” by Analise Ortiz.
The woman, like so many of her political and cultural “peers” is like a bad thigh rash.