Some illegal immigrants crossing the border in Yuma are renting rides through Uber, according to drivers from the San Francisco-based ride-hailing service. The migrants either admitted that they were crossing the border illegally or gave their status away with red flag behaviors: remote pickup locations alongside large groups, with hotels as their requested drop-off location.
The drivers first reported these crossings to Fox News, who kept the drivers’ identities anonymous. Uber spokespersons wouldn’t say if they were aware that their services were being used for illegal border crossings. Instead, the company explained that drivers were permitted to cancel rides if they felt unsafe. Drivers could also call police about a rider’s suspicious activity.
The drivers noted further that services rendered to admitted or suspected illegal immigrants increased dramatically after the Biden Administration announced that former President Donald Trump’s Migrant Protections Protocol (MPP) — or the “Remain in Mexico” policy — would be reinstated. A month earlier, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it was terminating MPP.
Days later, Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls declared an emergency over the border crossings. Nicholls reported over 6,000 illegal immigrants crossing through Yuma over the five days preceding his emergency proclamation. In addition to the dangers posed by illegal immigrants, such as heightened COVID-19 spread and crime, Nicolls explained that crossers were posing a threat to their economic viability and the nation’s food security by damaging agriculture fields.
“The surge of migrants has and will continue to directly impact Yuma’s agriculture industry,” said Nicolls’ office. “Currently, migrants are passing on foot through active agriculture fields. The encroachment on active production fields results in food safety concerns and the destruction of crops, which leads to significant economic loss and property damage in the farming community, loss of agriculture-related jobs, and a threat to the nation’s food security.”
The border wall along Yuma has gaps where construction wasn’t finished. The Tucson and El Paso, Texas sectors of the border wall also have gaps. DHS announced last week that it would use congressional funding to close those gaps, as well as finish gates, guardrails, access roads, drainage systems, signs, and construction site cleanup.
A week prior to that, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) called on the Biden Administration to finish the border wall for better security.
“We need better border security technology. We also need to deal with some of the gaps in border fencing in the Yuma area, and the small gaps present a significant challenge for Border Patrol,” said Kelly.
According to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), border crossings have increased by over 2,647 percent since October 1.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona gained over 93,000 new residents from July 2020 to July 2021, making it the fourth-largest percentage of population growth during that time period, after Idaho, Utah, and Montana. These estimates come from the latest data published by the Census Bureau.
A majority of the states which former President Donald Trump won in the 2020 election gained new residents by the tens of thousands, with the exception of hundreds of thousands who flocked to Florida, nearly 220,900, and Texas, over 170,300. Although President Joe Biden won Arizona, the state has voted for Republican presidential candidates and been under Republican leadership for decades.
Net Domestic Migration by State July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021:
The following are states that Biden won that lost population: California, nearly 367,300; Hawaii, over 12,600; Illinois, over 122,400; Maryland, nearly 19,900; Massachusetts, nearly 46,200; Michigan, nearly 7,900; Minnesota, over 13,400; New Jersey, over 27,700; New Mexico, nearly 2,200; New York, nearly 352,200; Pennsylvania, nearly 3,200; and Washington, nearly 30. District of Columbia.
The following are states that Biden won that gained population: Colorado, over 13,000; Connecticut, over 5,100; Delaware, over 12,200; Georgia, over 50,600; Maine, nearly 15,500; Nevada, over 25,300; New Hampshire, over 13,600; Oregon, nearly 8,100; Rhode Island, nearly 900; Vermont, nearly 4,600; Virginia, nearly 9,000; and Wisconsin, over 3,300.
Trump won the following states that lost population: Alaska, nearly 4,000; Kansas, over 5,200; Louisiana, over 30,300; Mississippi, over 4,200; North Dakota, over 6,400; Nebraska, over 3,300; Ohio, over 3,100;
Trump won the following states that gained population: Alabama, over 22,100; Arkansas, over 16,000; Florida, nearly 220,900; Idaho, nearly 48,900; Indiana, nearly 14,300; Iowa, over 800; Kentucky, over 10,000; Missouri, nearly 14,900; Montana, over 19,200; North Carolina, nearly 88,700; Oklahoma, nearly 24,700; South Carolina, over 64,800; South Dakota, over 5,500; Tennessee, nearly 61,400; Texas, over 170,300; Utah, 32,200; West Virginia, over 2,300; and Wyoming, over 1,200.
Despite those gains, Arizona won’t earn a tenth congressional district. Arizona officials estimated the population at 7.4 million, but total counts at the time of the 2020 census came out over 7.1 million with an estimated 99.9 percent of households covered.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Cyber Ninjas will be a defendant in an ongoing case to access all records related to the Arizona Senate audit of the 2020 election, according to a court ruling last Wednesday. CEO Doug Logan was called to testify shortly after the ruling; his deposition is scheduled to take place January 5.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Kemp asserted that Cyber Ninjas records were a matter of public record and characterized the company as an agent of the Arizona Senate. The plaintiff, American Oversight, had claimed that adequate relief wasn’t possible without adding Cyber Ninjas as a defendant because the company hadn’t turned over records requested.
“Cyber Ninjas possesses certain public records that the Senate Defendants are statutorily obligated to maintain and that the Senate Defendants have been ordered to produce in this matter. The Senate Defendants have made demand on Cyber Ninjas for those public records, but Cyber Ninjas has failed to provide them,” stated American Oversight. “In addition, Cyber Ninjas is properly joined because it is the custodian of certain public records, as was recently held in Cyber Ninjas, Inc. v. Hannah […] ‘Cyber Ninjas was properly joined as a necessary party in PNI’s special action because . . . as an agent of the Senate, it is alleged to be the sole custodian of records pertaining to the audit that are subject to disclosure under the PRL. In other words, joinder of Cyber Ninjas is necessary only because the Senate does not have the public records that are in Cyber Ninjas’ custody.’”
Logan requested to be added onto the case as an amicus party only, which Kemp denied.
American Oversight is an investigative and litigational organization that files open records requests. They first sued the Arizona Senate in May after not receiving their requested records on the election audit.
The latest court developments in American Oversight v. Karen came days after Cyber Ninjas presented additional findings on purported election integrity issues to Pima County. Cyber Ninjas was joined in their presentation by secretary of state candidate and State Representative Mark Finchem (R-Oro Valley).
Finchem read aloud a letter claimed to be from an anonymous Democrat whistleblower. The unidentified individual alleged that fellow Democrats added 35,000 votes to President Joe Biden’s totals in Pima County. The allegation described a secret meeting with the Pima County Democratic Party to embed the votes across the county, detailing spreadsheet plans that would avoid any audit suspicion by keeping fraudulent votes in groups of 1,000 and total votes below the entire voting population.
The Pima County Democratic Party derided the claims as lies and part of a grifting scheme.
Election night reports that Biden won Pima County by nearly ten points: 58.6 to former President Donald Trump’s 39.9 percent.
The current secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, has the complete opposite perspective of Finchem. In addition to dismissing Cyber Ninja’s claims outright — usually calling their audit work a “#fraudit” on Twitter — Hobbs proposed a slew of progressive election reforms in a letter submitted to the state legislature last week.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona law enforcement wanted to make sure this year’s Christmas was special for all the children in their communities; as always, they did so through “Shop With a Cop” programs. These annual events allow children from underprivileged or struggling families to shop alongside cops for Christmas presents. Local businesses and community members donate or volunteer time to make these events possible.
During a Shop With a Cop event, an officer will serve as a chaperone and shopping buddy for a child as they shop; sometimes, the events also incorporate a meal, activity like a movie, or even a visit from Santa. The intent of these events is to boost children’s morale while facilitating trust and confidence in police officers. Shop With a Cop also helps children practice good decision-making with their budget as they shop for themselves and their loved ones.
#FBIPhoenix joined our law enforcement partners the last few weekends for the AZ Law Enforcement Outreach and Support "2021 Shop with a Cop" event. Children were taken shopping and got to meet law enforcement personnel. We are thrilled to have been part of this amazing event! pic.twitter.com/E09Ig2H1Jp
Big smiles all around! ⛄️ On December 11th, detectives with the AZDPS Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) helped spread holiday cheer during the AZLEOS Shop With A Cop event at the Mesa Riverview Walmart. ? #AZTrooperspic.twitter.com/oFBOEcNslR
We are grateful to have been apart of this wonderful day which was was full of smiles and laughter!! AZLEOS Shop with a Cop! #azleospic.twitter.com/kXFbQrDE4a
This past weekend, MCSO participated in our final "Shop With a Cop" of the year. Within the month of December, we have provided toys for 115 children. That is 115 children who will now have #Christmas gifts under their tree.
Law enforcement agencies that participated in a Shop With a Cop event this year included the Arizona Rangers, FBI Arizona, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Prescott Police Department, Prescott Valley Police Department, Chino Valley Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Goodyear Police Department, Surprise Police Department, Lake Havasu Police Department, Cottonwood Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Chandler Police Department, and Benson Police Department.
The Arizona Law Enforcement Outreach and Support (AZLEOS) helped coordinate the participation of various police departments in Shop With a Cop events.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona law affords students forced to quarantine by their schools for COVID-19 the right to court-appointed counsel at the expense of the state, according to Attorney General Mark Brnovich. In an opinion issued last Friday, Brnovich responded to an inquiry from State Senator Kelly Townsend (R-Mesa) on the issue.
The attorney general explained that schools relying on county health department quarantine or isolation protocol must also adhere to the requirement of counsel outlined in the same law:
“The court shall appoint counsel at state expense to represent a person or group of persons who is subject to isolation or quarantine pursuant to this article and who is not otherwise represented by counsel,” reads the law. “Representation by appointed counsel continues throughout the duration of the isolation or quarantine of the person or group of persons. The department or local health authority must provide adequate means of communication between the isolated or quarantined persons and their counsel.”
The law also stipulates that legal counsel must be acquired at state expense and last the duration of the isolation or quarantine.
In reference to mandatory quarantines for students exposed to COVID-19, Brnovich referenced the authority cited by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) in their letter to communities in August. The letter cited MCDPH authority for student quarantines came from a statute which, in turn, cited the two statutes outlined by Brnovich granting legal counsel.
“When a county health department or public health services district is apprised that infectious or contagious disease exists within its jurisdiction, it shall immediately make an investigation. If the investigation discloses that the disease does exist, the county health department or public health services district may adopt quarantine and sanitary measures consistent with department rules and sections 36-788 and 36-789 to prevent the spread of the disease. The county health department or public health services district shall immediately notify the department of health services of the existence and nature of the disease and measures taken concerning it.”
Brnovich concluded that parents may seek a court order to lift the quarantine immediately, which would initiate the appointment of state-provided legal counsel to the student. A court would have 24 hours to hear the case, and 48 hours to submit its ruling. Counsel would also be available for parents petitioning to change quarantine conditions. In that case, a court would have 10 days to hold a hearing.
“[U]nder MCDPH’s quarantine requirements, which appear to be issued pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-788, MCDPH, through public schools, is mandating student quarantines without a court order. Once a parent or guardian receives the MCDPH letter requiring quarantine, the parent or guardian is entitled […] to immediately seek a court order lifting the quarantine,” wrote Brnovich. “And once a parent or guardian requests court review, A.R.S. § 36-789(M) requires the court to appoint counsel for the student at state expense. Similarly, if a parent or guardian files an action on behalf of the student challenging the conditions of a quarantine, the court is required to appoint counsel for the student at state expense.”
The attorney general noted that Arizona law doesn’t necessarily define “state expense.” He opined that the cost of counsel could fall on county health departments.
I wish to thank @GeneralBrnovich for this opinion regarding the quarantine of non-vaccinated students in school, which is exactly as I suspected. Parents, read this immediately and demand compliance! pic.twitter.com/djIEqbY5Ma
That wasn’t Kelly’s only request for Brnovich’s legal opinion as of late. The state senator requested Brnovich’s opinion on religious tests and denial of religious exemptions by employers.
