by Matthew Holloway | Jun 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) introduced the bipartisan Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 alongside Arizona Democrats Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ04), Senator Mark Kelly, and Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. In the proposed legislation, the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP) within the EPA, launched in 2020 under by President Donald Trump, would be codified into law.
The OMDP, which enhances coordination between federal, state, and tribal agencies in hardrock mining cleanup, would establish congressional oversight of the office as well.
According to Crane, the codification of the OMDP under this bill would:
- “Encourage the EPA to prioritize responsible mine cleanup in Arizona over green initiatives,
- Ensure proper congressional oversight of its progress,
- Bolster the OMDP’s outreach to ensure that local and Tribal authorities have a seat at the table for cleanup projects that impact their health and environment,
- Provide guardrails to keep the office’s efforts focused on mine cleanup.”
“As we work to support domestic mining of critical minerals, it’s crucial that we remain committed to doing so responsibly. The consequences of poor stewardship are detrimental for the health and safety of those living in rural Arizona, particularly on the Navajo Nation,” Rep. Crane said in a statement. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would help ensure reasonable and timely cleanup and increased congressional oversight of the process.”
In a post to X, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren publicly announced his support for the measure and thanked Rep. Crane and his co-sponsors.
“I want to thank Congressmen Eli Crane and Greg Stanton, Senators Mark Kelly and Cynthia Lummis, and all those involved in the introduction of the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act. This legislation is a critical step forward in addressing the long-standing health and environmental impacts of abandoned hardrock mines, especially on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren.
“By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains at the EPA, this bill ensures Tribal nations like ours have a meaningful voice in mine cleanup efforts that directly impact our communities. We have lived with the consequences of these abandoned sites for far too long—this act represents accountability, cooperation, and real progress. Ahéheeʼ to everyone who has helped move this issue forward.”
“Abandoned hardrock mines put Arizona communities—especially Tribal nations—at a high risk of exposure to substances that are hazardous to their long-term health,” Rep. Greg Stanton said. “Our bipartisan legislation works to swiftly and responsibly mitigate this environmental threat, and makes sure Tribal and local authorities have a stronger voice in the process.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 8, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s federal immigration court in Phoenix became off-limits to anti-immigration enforcement protestors and journalists covering them on May 21st when private security ordered them off the property. On May 28th, the Phoenix Police Department issued another warning to the protestors that they could be criminally cited for trespassing. The situation in Arizona is unique for the activists seeking to disrupt deportations because the Federal Immigration Court in Phoenix is located in a privately-owned office building.
Journalists covering the legal proceedings themselves are permitted inside the court as one would normally expect. However, the anti-ICE radicals who have sought to disrupt immigration proceedings in cities across the country, and the reporters following in their wake, are stymied by the newly installed “No Trespassing” signs and ropes to bar them from the private property.
The outlet reported Friday that activist groups and ASU’s First Amendment Clinic (FAC) expressed that the legal situation for protestors and reporters is unclear. Gregg Leslie, executive director of FAC explained, “Right now, it’s not all that clear because of the oddity of how this is all managed. Where the government’s rights take over versus the landlord’s rights, versus the other tenants’ rights.”
He added that the public “right of access,” exists largely as a function of whether a location is on publicly owned land or private land. This is complicated by the courtroom’s location on the third floor of a privately owned building. “If it’s private land owned for public access, there are certain allowances for there being greater public access to it,” he told the outlet.
The protests and subsequent restrictions came following a series of arrests on May 20th and 21st which found dozens of illegal aliens arrested after immigration charges against them were dismissed. Protestors gathered in front of the building chanted “No More ICE!” among other slogans including Spanish profanity. At least one protestor allegedly attempted to pull off an officer’s face covering.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In the wake of what Turning Point PAC has declared “the largest launch event in Arizona gubernatorial primary history,” the political action committee has announced a massive initial media buy supporting Andy Biggs in his primary challenge against fellow-Republican Karrin Taylor Robson.
The upcoming media-buy is set to total over $500,000 without accounting for the Saturday “Biggs for Governor” Rally hosted by Turning Point Action and Turning Point PAC, which itself amounted to “an additional $780,000 in earned media value (EMV),” according to a press release.
Per the PAC, the $500k media buy will include “impactful ad placements that go live on strategic cable, over-the-top, radio and direct-to-voter placements most watched and listened to by local Arizonans.”
The $780k earned media value of the launch event includes clips, speeches, and promotional materials which were widely shared online during the weekend and reportedly generated 52.1 million impressions on social media according to Turning Point PAC.
“Taken as a whole with Turning Point PAC’s $500,000 media buy announcement, the organization’s independent expenditures and organizing to support Biggs’s primary launch already amounts to over $1,400,000,” the committee said in a statement.
“To see a room packed with thousands of Biggs supporters this far out from the primary was truly historic, and it’s proof of the grassroots energy that is already gathering behind his campaign. There isn’t a world in which voters will not be aware of Andy Biggs being on the ballot, and the more who find out, the more his double-digit lead over all other competitors will grow,” said Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA & Turning Point Action. “Andy Biggs is ready to bring a President Trump and Ron DeSantis level of leadership and competency to governing Arizona, and Turning Point is proud to get behind his campaign.”
Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action and Turning Point PAC added, “Andy Biggs was the best Senate President Arizona has had in decades and he has been President Trump’s most reliable friend in Congress. He is Trump-endorsed, Charlie Kirk endorsed, and Turning Point Action endorsed. His campaign momentum is already building at an incredible clip and we’ve barely just begun. The media buy combined with Biggs’s impressive earned media exposure shows how enthusiastic the grassroots is to make Andy Biggs the next governor of Arizona.”
The media spending blitz comes alongside more good news for Biggs. A recent poll from American Commitment shows Biggs with a commanding lead over Taylor Robson in the 2026 Republican primary election for governor. Conducted by Kreate Strategies, the poll shows Biggs (57% support) leads Taylor Robson (25% support) by 32 points.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 6, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem has ordered the issuance of three new waivers to allow construction on 36 miles of new border wall in Arizona and New Mexico to begin. The largest stretch of border wall will be constructed at the Tucson Sonoita Project covering approximately 24.7 miles of the border.
Under the power of the waivers issued by Noem on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security is able to bypass environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act in order to expeditiously construct physical barriers and roads. Waivers of this kind are authorized by Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
According to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the waivers will cover projects that were already funded under appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021. In addition to the major stretch between Tucson and Sonoita, the waivers will cover approximately seven miles of the El Paso Sector’s Santa Teresa Secondary Wall Project, about 2.1 miles of the Tucson 10-6 Project, as well as allowing for the closure of several gaps in the El Paso and Yuma Sectors ranging in size from 40 feet up to a fifth of a mile, with seven prominent gaps in the Yuma Sector Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) Wall Project South of Gila Bend.
The full breakdown by project is:
- El Paso Sector Santa Teresa Secondary Wall Project (~7 miles)
- El Paso Sector 16-4 Wall Project Anapra (~1.3 miles)
- El Paso Sector 2 Wall Project & Port of Entry (POE) Gate (~0.2 mile & ~40 feet)
- Yuma Sector Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) Wall Project (7 gaps; ~40-240 feet)
- Tucson Sonoita Project (~24.7 miles)
- Tucson 10-4 Project (~0.2 miles)
- Tucson 10-6 Project (~2.1 miles)
DHS described the newly resumed projects by stating that they will “close critical gaps in the border wall and enhance border security operations in the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso, Tucson and Yuma Sectors.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 5, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Two Arizona teenagers were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the Tohono O’odham Nation alongside three illegal aliens from Guatemala and one Mexican national in the midst of a human smuggling operation last week.
Border surveillance technology identified a suspect vehicle: a silver 2005 Honda Civic, which had earlier been detected driving southbound on Interstate 19 between Tucson and Nogales. The vehicle was observed driving toward the border and then abruptly reversing course and turning north. Agents at the Three Points Border Patrol Station were alerted to the driver’s unusual behavior at 6 PM Friday according to a statement from Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Agents located the vehicle and noted that it appeared to be “heavily laden,” and performed a vehicle stop. As the vehicle stopped, two male figures in camouflaged clothing were spotted attempting to exit the vehicle when the driver took off, attempting to flee with the trunk open and the two males still inside. The responding agents were quickly engaged in a vehicle chase. The pursuit quickly went off road where it dramatically ended.
“The Honda was driven cross country, off-road, through brush, dirt banks and washes causing significant damage to the vehicle. During the off-road pursuit, agents reported seeing the two men in the trunk nearly ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop approximately 100 yards from FR-19. The driver, front passenger, and the two men in the trunk exited the vehicle and fled the area on foot.”
In a post to X, CBP Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector Sean McGoffin described the encounter, “Three Points Border Patrol Agents were led on a vehicle chase by two reckless teenagers in a Honda Civic. The vehicle chase ended abruptly only after the vehicle was disabled due to the teenagers erratic off-road driving.”
The scene the agents found when approaching the vehicle was harrowing. They observed a three-year-old child with a bloodied nose lying face down on top of a woman identified as his mother in the back of the vehicle. Agents rendered first aid and removed them from the vehicle.
An Air Marine Operations air asset patrolling nearby also responded to the incident and spotted the suspects fleeing on foot. They were able to guide the responding agents to their location where all four were arrested.
McGoffin concluded in his post to X, “The teenagers’ actions nearly cost the lives of everyone in their Honda. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. The Phoenix teens are now in a world of trouble as they will face federal human smuggling charges for their actions. The illegal aliens will be presented for removal proceedings.”
According to the CBP statement, “Smuggling organizations frequently recruit juvenile and young adult drivers from Phoenix to pick up human and narcotic smuggling loads along the border.” This has been reflected in several reports by AZ Free News over the past few months.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
