State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Mesa), in anticipation of Governor Katie Hobbs refusing to cooperate with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, introduced the “AZ ICE Act” to require compliance this week. SB 1164 requires sheriffs and the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) to enter into 287(g) agreements with the federal government by January 1, 2026, to support enforcement of federal immigration laws. This includes complying with immigration detainer requests, so criminal illegal immigrants aren’t released back on the streets.
“Ending the border crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Petersen said in a press release from the Arizona Senate. “This commonsense legislation will not only allow federal and local law enforcement to work together to protect our citizens, but it will also prevent government obstruction. Arizona voters spoke loud and clear last November. They overwhelmingly approved the ‘Secure the Border Act’ that Republicans referred to the ballot because they want the law enforced, and they want safe communities. I look forward to the AZ ICE Act passing the Legislature, and I’m hopeful the Governor will listen to our citizens by signing the bill when it hits her desk.”
“An estimated 453,000 individuals who are unlawfully present in Arizona have cost taxpayers an astonishing $3.19 billion in 2023 alone,” the press release stated. It noted that section 287(g) was enacted during the Clinton administration in 1996.
On Monday, Trump’s first day of office, he declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico. Officials said it will allow the government to continue building the border wall and deploy the military. Trump reposted a statement on Truth Social by Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, stating that Trump was “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump added the comment, “True!”
Also on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a previous policy that directed federal immigration authorities to stay away from “protected areas” such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals. Phoenix Union High School District responded by sending letters to students and their parents, informing them that students can attend school through remote learning, implying that they will help them dodge deportation.
The border app CBP One, which was used by illegal immigrants to receive assistance by the government to schedule appointments for assistance illegally crossing the border, was disabled.
Since Hobbs as the governor oversees ADOC, she could attempt to stop the agency from complying. She, along with Attorney General Kris Mayes, could find other ways to thwart Trump’s directives. Hobbs has made several statements indicating this is likely.
On Monday, Hobbs said during a press conference responding to Trump’s immigration announcements, “I will not tolerate misguided policies that don’t actually help with the critical work that’s happening here, that you’re seeing here today, that actually keeps our communities safe and secure. I will not tolerate terrorizing communities or threatening Arizonans.”
In the State House, State Rep. Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande) introduced a similar bill directed at Hobbs and Mayes HB 2099. It would require the pair to comply with all actions and programs related to federal immigration laws. Martinez noted during an interview with the Arizona Capitol Times that in November, Hobbs said, “That’s not going to happen on my watch,” when asked about the Trump administration deporting illegal immigrants in Arizona. She added, “We will not be participating in misguided efforts that harm our communities. And I’ve been incredibly clear about that.”
Hobbs told the Capitol Times, “We’re not going to use state resources to participate in misguided efforts that harm our communities.”
As a result of Trump’s new policy changes, Pima County announced that it will be closing two shelters for illegal immigrants this month. KGUN reported that the shelters have assisted 518,000 illegal immigrants since 2019.
Mayes and other Democratic attorneys general immediately sued the Trump administration over his executive order ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants and got a federal judge in Seattle to issue a temporary restraining order halting it.
Arizona voters passed Proposition 314 last fall, giving local law enforcement the ability to arrest and deport illegal immigrants. However, not all of it has gone into effect yet, due to a challenge to a similar law, Texas’s SB 4, which the Supreme Court is currently reviewing for constitutionality.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) released a study in 2008 of the percentages of felonies committed by illegal immigrants. MCAO found that while illegal immigrants represented 9 percent of the population in the county at that time, they committed 21.8 percent of felonies. Due to left-wing billionaire George Soros funding campaigns to defeat right-leaning district attorneys from office, there have been few updated studies on these numbers.
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].
