by Staff Reporter | Feb 14, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A group with ties to the terrorist organization Hamas, CAIR-AZ, was invited as honored guests of the Arizona Senate on Tuesday.
CAIR-AZ attended Senate proceedings for a proclamation honoring the deaths in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and Lebanon.
“This is a historic step for the Muslim community and CAIR-AZ, as we have worked tirelessly to get this proclamation passed,” stated the organization in an Instagram post.
The proclamation, SR1001, declared Arizona’s recognition and mourning of the loss of lives in Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, and Congo due to the ongoing humanitarian crises. The proclamation declared February to be “a month of remembrance and solidarity” for those countries.
Preceding the proclamation was a prayer from Omar Al-Tawil, an imam at the Islamic Community Center of Tempe and a chaplain for Muslim students at Arizona State University.
SR1001 was introduced by Senator Analise Ortiz and co-sponsored by Sens. Bravo, Diaz, Miranda, and Sundareshan. Ortiz later appeared in photos with the CAIR-AZ activists celebrating the proclamation’s passage.
Those present included Khaled Beydoun, a pro-Hamas activist and Arizona State University associate law professor; Azza Abuseif, executive director of CAIR-AZ, lead organizer of Women’s March Phoenix, and Arizona State Director of NextGen America; Tarteel Alimam, executive administrator at CAIR-AZ; Zakir Siddiqi, co-chair of the Arizona Green Party and co-owner of the WhereUBean Coffee; and former lawmaker Martín Quezada, now the lawyer for CAIR-AZ.
Also present were representatives for the activist organizations AZ AANHPI for Equity, Our Instituto, AZ PACC, Progress Arizona, One Arizona, Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, and CHISPA Arizona.
In a press release, CAIR-AZ took credit for SR1001’s passage.
“At a time when the world bears witness to immense suffering and injustice, it is crucial to recognize and remember those who have perished due to violence, conflict, and humanitarian crises,” said Abuseif.
The inclusion of the group resulted in ire from Arizonans witnessing the display.
“Who’s bright idea was it to let terrorist-simps spread their propaganda on the AZ Senate floor?” asked one Arizonan.
In addition to advocating for Hamas, CAIR-AZ has taken to protesting against immigration enforcement efforts. The group participated in a protest against SB1164, or the “Arizona ICE Act.” This legislation allows the U.S. Attorney General to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. This would enable Arizona law enforcement to investigate, apprehend, and detain illegal aliens.
CAIR-AZ also advocated against Proposition 314, the “Secure the Border Act” approved by voters last November. The proposition requires state and local agencies to verify immigration status prior to giving out government benefits, makes it a crime for illegal aliens to apply for government benefits with false information, and enhances punishments for selling fentanyl produced outside the U.S. A portion of the proposition directing law enforcement to arrest illegal aliens remains unenforceable due to court orders in other states.
The national affiliate for CAIR-AZ, CAIR, is an entity of the Muslim brotherhood linked to Hamas activities.
CAIR leaders celebrated the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
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by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 23, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Immediately following the inauguration of a new President of the United States, a powerful Arizona lawmaker introduced legislation to assist federal efforts to secure the border.
On Tuesday, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen introduced the Arizona Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act (AZ ICE Act).
According to information from a press release, the bill would require “county sheriffs’ departments and the Arizona Department of Corrections to enter into 287(g) agreements with the federal government by January 1, 2026, to support enforcement of federal immigration laws. These agreements allow local law enforcement to help identify and process noncitizens who are in local custody for violating laws. Additionally, the legislation requires law enforcement to comply with immigration detainer requests, preventing criminal illegal aliens from being released back on the streets. The bill also directs funding to law enforcement to ensure that there is sufficient funding in place for implementation.”
In a statement that accompanied his release, Petersen said, “Ending the border crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. 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.”
Petersen’s release revealed that “Congress enacted section 287(g) in 1996 during the Clinton Administration. Under 287(g), local law enforcement agencies enter into agreements with the federal government to perform specified immigration functions. Local officers then receive formal training from the federal government on the scope of these functions.”
The Senate President’s latest legislative offering continues his leadership on the border lawlessness that permeated throughout the tenure of the Biden administration. Petersen supported many efforts to help Arizona law enforcement and communities protect citizens from the harms created from the porous border, including the Secure the Border Act, which was passed by Republican lawmakers last year and sent to the voters for the November General Election. Arizonans overwhelmingly voted for this ballot measure, which gave local law enforcement more resources and tools to fight back against the effects of illegal immigration around the state – one of those effects being the pervasive spread of fentanyl by cartels and drug smugglers due to the open border.
While Petersen and Republicans at the Arizona Legislature now have a partner in the White House in President Donald J. Trump for their collective efforts to secure the border and safeguard communities around their state, they will likely face continued resistance from Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat. Hobbs has opposed most Republican actions to take action on the border from the state’s perspective and purview. Now, though, that Hobbs’ window for re-election in this political cycle has commenced, she may take more steps to align on more areas over border security and enforcement than before in an attempt to convince a majority of voters that she can work across the aisle on matters of significance to the state.
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