by Matthew Holloway | Feb 18, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The passage of the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35) in the U.S. House of Representatives last week was met with drastically opposite reactions from Republicans and Democrats. While Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ6), who introduced the bill, hailed it as a safeguard for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and law enforcement officers, Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR5) decried the bill as “fear-mongering dressed up as officer safety.” She also compared it to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
In a press release, Ciscomani’s office explained that the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act was so named for an agent of the Border Patrol who was tragically killed during a high-speed pursuit of an illegal immigrant. The bill was drafted in response, making failure to yield a federal offense, and intensifying if the illegal immigrant’s flight from authorities leads to a fatality. Should a person be killed during pursuit, the assailant could serve life in prison.
At the bill’s introduction, Ciscomani said, “Every day, communities across my district experience high-speed car chases that endanger the lives of residents and frontline law enforcement officers and agents. Far too often, these chases end in tragedy, as it did for Agent Raul Gonzalez and countless others. My legislation, fittingly named after Agent Gonzalez, would impose federal penalties on human smugglers and other bad actors that are involved in high-speech chases with federal and local law enforcement. We must send a clear message to anyone seeking to harm our communities that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Specifically, the bill establishes that a person fleeing from Border Patrol in a vehicle within 100 miles of the U.S. border would be “imprisoned for a term of not more than 2 years,” and adds that in the event that an officer suffers bodily injury or death resulting from the flight of an assailant from immigration enforcement, the penalties escalate. A bodily injury increases the sentence from five to twenty years. The death of an officer could result in life in prison.
The bill passed the House in a largely bipartisan vote of 264 – 155.
Despite the votes of her fellow Democrats, Congresswoman Bynum held a distinctly different and ahistorical view, comparing the bill to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Essentailly, she compared illegal immigrants living and working in the United States by choice, to Africans subjected to the horrors of chattel slavery in the 19th century.
Bynum told the House, “I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 35. Let’s call this bill what it is: fear mongering dressed up as officer safety. This bill echoes one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.”
She claimed, “Just like that shameful law, H.R. 35 forces authorities and encourages the deputizing of ‘randos’ to do the federal government’s work, punishing them if they refuse. Back then it was hunting down people who dared to seek freedom. Today, it’s forcing local police to become federal enforcers.”
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen rejected Bynum’s statement, telling reporters that the Oregon Democrat is “hellbent on pursuing a dangerous anti-police officer crusade in Congress,” according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Petersen continued, “Bynum’s extremist vote siding with cartel terrorists over Border Patrol puts Oregonians in danger.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Feb 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to provide better support to Arizona families has cleared a legislative hurdle.
Last week, the Arizona House of Representatives Government Committee passed HB 2216 “to establish the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program within the Arizona Department of Health Services. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Walt Blackman.
According to the release from Blackman, the proposal “advances efforts to provide real, practical support for women and families facing unplanned pregnancies by funding nonprofit organizations that offer medical care, parenting education, adoption assistance, and essential resources like clothing, car seats, and housing support.” If signed into law, HB 2216 would “establish strict accountability measures, requiring annual audits and reports to ensure responsible use of grant funds; [and] prohibit funds from being used for political or religious purposes while ensuring all participating organizations protect client privacy in compliance with state and federal laws.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Representative Blackman said, “HB 2216 helps make sure women and families have the resources they need to choose life and build a strong future. Too often, women facing unplanned pregnancies feel like they have nowhere to turn. This program sees they have access to real help – prenatal care, parenting classes, material support, and housing assistance – without pressure or political agendas. We’re putting Arizona families first by funding organizations that empower mothers and protect the most vulnerable among us.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, National Association of Social Workers – Arizona Chapter, Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement, Camelback Family Planning, National Council of Jewish Women, Pro-Choice Arizona Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Arizona National Organization for Women (NOW), and American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, all signed in to oppose the bill.
HB 2216 passed the Senate Government Committee along party lines with a 4-3 vote. It will soon be considered by the full chamber of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A coalition of Arizona lawmakers have set their eyes on space.
Three Arizona legislators recently transmitted a letter of commitment to the Southwest Regional Aerospace Innovation Alliance’s pending application to the National Science Foundation (NSF) “for funding to develop Yuma as the nation’s next commercial and industrial spaceport.” The lawmakers were State Representatives Justin Wilmeth and Michele Peña, and Senator Tim Dunn.
According to the press release issued by the coalition, the “creation of a Yuma-based spaceport would strengthen national security, boost economic growth, and drive advancements in space exploration, generat[ing] $2 billion in annual economic activity, create thousands of jobs, and establish a strategic hub for commercial space launches and innovation.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the letter, Representative Wilmeth said, “With the new Trump administration prioritizing spaceflight and economic expansion, Arizona is ready to play a leading role. House Republicans urge state and federal officials to support the Alliance’s NSF application, ensuring long-term investment in space exploration and economic growth. Arizona has an opportunity to help drive American innovation and prosperity.”
Representative Peña added, “Yuma is the ideal location for the next spaceport, offering advantages unmatched by any costal alternative. With optimal weather, proximity to military and defense assets, pro-business policies, a skilled workforce, and exclusive launch directionality over the Sea of Cortex, it is the smartest and most efficient choice.”
Senator Dunn also weighed in, saying, “Yuma continues to be leaders in innovation. I ran the legislation several years ago and am proud to support this collaboration and encourage its selection.”
The letter highlights that Arizona passed HB 2423 in 2019 “to promote commercial space flight activities in Arizona ‘through the launch of stratospheric, suborbital and orbital missions’ and to ‘promote the creation of space infrastructure in Arizona to increase economic development.’”
The lawmakers also noted that just last year, the state legislature approved HB 2254 to “establish the Arizona Space Commission and Arizona Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund to support the development of emerging technologies in human space flight, the development of a skilled labor workforce for commercial spaceflight and space commerce, and the development of infrastructure for establishing and maintaining a spaceport in Arizona.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Feb 17, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ASU ‘Aliento’ Club, a pro-illegal immigration activist nonprofit funded by George Soros, hosted a training workshop entitled “Know your Rights,” aimed at providing illegal immigrant students with strategies to avoid deportation.
According to Cronkite News, the event “aimed to empower students with information about their rights following the changing landscape of U.S. immigration policies.” Co-chair of Aliento at ASU Emily Sotelo Estrada told Cronkite, “All of these students … they have homes. They have families. And it’s important that they know their rights. So the purpose of this presentation was to, for one, educate them, because we at Aliento believe that that’s the most important, most powerful tool that we all have.”
In a post to X, Aliento stated that the organization had made presentations to “240+ students, 21 schools, 75 conversations,” as well as “two powerful days at the AZ Capitol!”
The group also celebrated an Aliento protest led by Estrada against a peaceful tabling demonstration by the College Republicans United at Arizona State (CRU) on February 5th.
As reported by the Arizona Daily Independent, Aliento was founded by Reyna Montoya, who was the recipient of $132,200 in seed-money from George Soros’ Open Society Institute in 2016-18 “to organize people directly affected by the immigration detention system to generate narratives that emphasize the humanity of those in detention and to create policy recommendations for reform.”
The workshop provided ASU’s illegal immigrant and activist students with useful tips such as how to readily identify ICE vehicles, the laws surrounding legal searches, and contact numbers for immigration attorneys.
In an image published by Cronkite, an Aliento slide can be seen advising illegal immigrants to “Have a U.S. citizen or someone who is not undocumented drive,” and “Limit your driving to essentials,” in addition to advising that with police, “Know any interaction could lead to an arrest,” and that they should “Discern emergency from help,” suggesting that they should avoid contacting police except as a last resort.
The organization also advised illegal immigrants to explicitly use their U.S.-born children as proxies to interact with state agencies suggesting: “ONLY give information to US Children when asking for public benefits – DO NOT LIE or give inaccurate info.”
Diana Cortes, program chair for Aliento at ASU, told the university publication, “The fear and everything that’s growing – we’re just here to listen to the people’s concerns and address them. We’re having ‘Know Your Rights’ and all of those workshops in response to what’s being asked from us from our community.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Feb 17, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One Arizona legislator is seeking to help veterans in his state.
Last week, Arizona State Representative Justin Wilmeth announced that he had introduced HB 2871 “to allocate $10 million for clinical research on ibogaine.” According to a press release issued by the Arizona House of Representatives Republican Caucus, ibogaine is “a promising potential treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – conditions that have severely affected many veterans returning from combat.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill introduction, Wilmeth said, “Our military heroes put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, yet when they come home, too many are left suffering in silence. Traditional treatments have fallen short, and the reality is stark – veterans with TBI and PTSD are at an alarmingly high risk of suicide. Ibogaine treatment has shown incredible promise, and Arizona has an opportunity to take the lead in finding solutions that give these men and women real hope and real healing.”
Wilmeth added, “Veterans who sustained brain injuries in combat shouldn’t have to leave the country to access treatment that could change their lives. We owe it to our veterans to explore every option to help them have a full and healthy life. If this research can prove that ibogaine can truly heal the unseen wound of war, Arizona will be at the forefront of revolutionizing care for our warriors.”
The press release from the state lawmaker shared that “ibogaine, a plant-derived treatment with roots in West Africa, has drawn increasing attention for its potential to mitigate PTSD symptoms and neurological damage. Veterans, including Congressman Morgan Luttrell and retired SEAL Marcus Luttrell, have credited ibogaine with helping them recover from the physical and mental toll of combat. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has also emerged as a vocal advocate, calling ibogaine treatment a ‘lifeline’ for veterans.”
If signed into law, HB 2871 would “direct the Arizona Department of Health Services to award grants to a research institution with proven expertise in neurological studies to conduct a certified clinical study on the use of ibogaine for treating TBI and PTSD.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 17, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help improve students’ focus at schools around Arizona passed a legislative committee.
Last week, the Arizona House Committee on Science & Technology passed HB 2484 “to require school districts and charter schools to adopt policies that regulate student access to the internet and limit the use of wireless communication devices during the school day.” State Representative Beverly Pingerelli is the sponsor of the legislation.
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Representative Pingerelli said, “The excessive use of cell phones in schools is a growing crisis that is harming our children’s education and well-being. It’s time to restore order in the classroom. My bill ensures that schools establish common-sense policies to keep students focused on learning rather than scrolling through social media and texting during class. The goal is simple: devices should be ‘away for the day’ so kids can engage in their education, free from constant digital distractions.”
Pingerelli added, “Education should be about equipping our children with knowledge and skills, not competing with TikTok and Snapchat for their attention. This bill restores a learning environment where teachers can teach, and students can succeed.”
Additional information about the bill revealed that it would “require school districts and charter schools to adopt policies that restrict student access to social media on school-provided internet and limit personal device use during instructional time, allow teachers to grant access to social media only when necessary for educational purposes, [and] ensure that students can use their devices in emergencies or when directed by a teacher for academic work.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Stand for Children, AZ School Administrators, and Arizona School Boards Association signed in to support the proposal; while a representative from the Arizona Education Association signed in as neutral.
State Representatives Biasiucci, Gress, Hendrix, and Márquez joined as co-sponsors of the bill.
In committee, all nine members of the panel voted to send the bill to the full House, giving this proposal an overwhelmingly bipartisan win ahead of its next step in the legislative journey.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
