by Matthew Holloway | Jun 30, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Immigration and Border Enforcement Officers scored a major victory over cross-border drug smugglers in San Luis, Arizona, when they arrested an American citizen following a search of a suspicious vehicle. During the search, officers found over $1.3 million worth of cocaine bound for the streets of Phoenix and Tucson.
The incident occurred in the morning on Friday June 20th when the suspect, a 26-year-old male driving a pickup truck, attempted to enter via the dedicated SENTRI inspection lane from Mexico. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the SENTRI system allows for “expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers,” and requires, “all applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.”
In a press release, Border Patrol stated that the driver, confirmed to be a U.S. citizen, was “referred for further examination after the primary officer detected abnormalities within the spare tire.” The additional scrutiny paid off when in a secondary inspection area, a CBP canine unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
In the extensive search that followed, CBP officers located and extracted fifty packages of cocaine hidden in the vehicle, including those hidden in the spare tire. The estimated street value of the seized narcotics was $1,317,580.
Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis, praised the officer’s work in extreme conditions saying, “The tireless efforts of our officers and drive to protect our nation in these unrelenting conditions of 100 plus degree temperatures prevented these dangerous drugs from entering our streets and communities.”
The suspect, whose name has not been released, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, while his vehicle and the drugs inside were seized. According to CBP, “Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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 Jonathan Eberle | Jun 14, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has named Brigadier General John Conley as the new Adjutant General of Arizona and Director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA).
In his new position, Brig. Gen. Conley will oversee the full scope of DEMA operations, including Arizona’s Army and Air National Guard units, Joint Task Force, Administrative Services, and the state’s Division of Emergency Management. The appointment comes as Arizona continues to contend with challenges related to border security, emergency preparedness, and the flow of illicit drugs into the state.
“Brigadier General Conley is a distinguished leader, accomplished lawyer, and dedicated public servant,” said Governor Hobbs in a statement. “As The Adjutant General and Director of DEMA, Conley will build on our efforts to secure the border and protect Arizona communities.”
Brig. Gen. Conley has more than 30 years of commissioned service in both the Army and Air National Guard. For the past 14 years, he has held key roles within the Arizona National Guard, including his most recent position as Director of Administrative Services for DEMA. There, he managed critical support functions such as personnel, finance, and mission planning for the Guard and Emergency Management Division.
Conley also previously served as the senior legal advisor for the Arizona National Guard, overseeing Judge Advocates and legal personnel across all service components. His work included the development of military cyber operations, where he played a pivotal role in establishing interagency cybersecurity partnerships with the FBI and the Arizona Department of Administration.
“I’m honored that Governor Hobbs has selected me to lead the Arizona National Guard and DEMA,” said Conley. “Throughout my career, I have been driven by a desire to defend our country and to keep people safe. I look forward to continuing to serve Arizonans alongside the exceptional men and women of DEMA.”
Conley’s appointment comes at a time when Arizona faces heightened scrutiny over border security and public safety.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 13, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen recently led a delegation of nearly a dozen state attorneys general and local law enforcement officials to the U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to assess conditions on the ground and observe changes in federal immigration enforcement.
The bipartisan delegation, which included state attorneys general from as far away as Indiana, Mississippi, and South Dakota, met with local police, government leaders, medical professionals, and nonprofit organizations to get a clearer picture of the current border environment.
According to Petersen, the group found dramatically reduced migrant crossings, fewer than five per day in some areas, a stark contrast to the thousands reported daily in previous years. Officials attributed the drop to a return to stricter immigration enforcement policies, including the end of the “catch and release” practice and increased prosecutions under the U.S. Department of Justice.
“For the first time in recent history, most Americans say the country is on the right track,” Petersen said in a statement. “We didn’t need a new law. We just needed a new president to enforce the laws already on the books.”
Petersen framed the visit as a testament to the Arizona Legislature’s support for enhanced federal enforcement at the border. He emphasized the state’s continued commitment to addressing cross-border crime and public safety.
Other officials echoed Petersen’s message, citing improvements in morale among border agents and the impact of reduced immigration on state-level services.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown linked the border situation to fentanyl trafficking, which he said has contributed to thousands of overdose deaths in his state. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also referenced her office’s work with ICE through the 287(g) program, calling President Trump’s policies essential for restoring border integrity.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson both emphasized the criminal aspect of illegal immigration. Wilson, calling the previous administration’s approach “reckless,” said, “Every state is now a border state, and South Carolina is no exception.”
Local law enforcement also played a key role in the visit. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes described the tour as a valuable educational tool for law enforcement across the country, citing the challenges posed by human and drug smugglers.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot and County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, who hosted the delegation, expressed gratitude for national support. “We are grateful to again have officials in the White House who understand our plight,” said Lines. “Together, we are making a difference for residents of the border communities.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Jun 9, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Heading into November’s election, the Democratic Party felt good. They thought they had the presidency locked up. And here locally, they were convinced that they would gain control of Arizona’s legislature after outspending Republicans in every single race.
Then, a massacre happened. President Trump was handed a mandate by the American people, and Democrats actually lost ground in our state legislature. That had to feel like rock bottom for the Left, and yet, as we’ve seen so far in 2025, it wasn’t.
On the heels of their historic defeat, the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of its leaders, just days before its convention and officer elections in January. Then, in April, the ADP saw even more infighting between party leadership and the state’s top Democratic elected officials: Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego. Now, the latest news shows that, according to its own leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party will actually go broke by the end of this year.
That’s a lot of dysfunction in just a few short months, which is usually the domain for Republicans. But now it appears the Dems have become the standard bearer of political chaos…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
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.
