Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) reportedly assisted with the capture of three illegal aliens while tagging along on a border security sweep.
Hamadeh traded the suit and tie preferred on Capitol Hill for military fatigues during a ride-along with Border Patrol on Tuesday. The congressman thanked the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office for arranging his participation in their immigration enforcement work.
Great honor to join our brave law enforcement officers, state and federal, who are working together in securing our border. Today, we assisted Border Patrol in capturing three illegal aliens.
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office and Board of Supervisors have been sparring over the former’s decision to enter into an agreement assisting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement with deportations. The board sued the county attorney, Brad Miller, over the agreement.
The Pinal County Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order on that agreement in February prior to the case’s transferral to the Maricopa County Superior Court, where it remains pending.
As part of that court-ordered halt, Miller agreed to not engage with ICE beyond information sharing.
Separately, a federal court ruled last month in favor of state laws enabling state and local police to arrest illegal aliens for immigration violations. The case was decided by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on the fate of a Texas law (Texas Senate Bill 4); the Biden administration initiated that lawsuit, but the Trump administration dropped it recently.
The court dismissed the case after determining that the one county and two civil rights groups that remained as the sole challengers to the Texas law lacked standing.
That appeals court decision gave the green light to the Arizona Border Security Act, or Proposition 314, which was passed by Arizona voters in 2024. Gov. Katie Hobbs attempted to terminate that legislation through veto, but a majority of Arizona voters proved to support the measure.
The Texas and Arizona laws, and others like them, will likely face challenges for the foreseeable future. Civil rights groups filed a lawsuit to stop the Texas law on Monday.
🚨 Huge news! The Arizona Border Security Act will go into effect!
The 5th Circuit just ruled that Texas SB 4 can finally take effect — giving state and local police the power to arrest illegal border crossers.
Arizona voters made their position crystal clear in 2024,…
A hearing is scheduled for May 15 at 9 am before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon.
Southwest land border encounters have declined steeply since President Donald Trump took office. Border encounters went from all-time highs of several million per fiscal year (over 2.4 million in fiscal year 2023, and over 2.1 million in fiscal year 2024) to one-fourth previous totals (over 400,000 in fiscal year 2025).
At this point in the last fiscal year, southwest land border encounters were approximately 380,700. For this fiscal year, there have been just over 63,700 encounters: approximately one-sixth the total from the same point in time the last fiscal year.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection fiscal years run from October of the previous year to September of the current year (fiscal year 2026 runs from October 2025 to September 2026).
While Arizona’s Republican elected officials in Congress have offered their support for immigration enforcement, Democratic representatives have worked to slow or halt immigration enforcement.
Congresswomen Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) have both dedicated significant taxpayer resources to assisting illegal aliens and opposing ICE.
AZ Free News reported last week that nearly half of Grijalva’s press releases since taking office have concerned a defense of illegal aliens or opposition to ICE. Nearly one-third of her X posts since taking office were defenses of illegal aliens, demands to abolish ICE, or opposition to immigration enforcement. Three of her 14 non-recognition remarks on the congressional record were focused on opposing ICE and immigration enforcement.
Grijalva and Ansari, along with Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, have made multiple trips to immigration detention centers, independently and as a group. The Democratic officials have referred to illegal aliens as their constituents.
Last week, Grijalva, Ansari, and Stanton introduced legislation to limit detention periods of illegal aliens to 12 hours.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
While Democratic elected officials invited illegal aliens to the State of the Union (SOU) on Tuesday, Republicans invited Americans victimized by illegal aliens.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notified the public on social media that certain elected representatives were planning to bring illegal aliens as their guests.
“Democrats are once again prioritizing illegal aliens above the safety of American citizens,” stated DHS.
Sen. John Hickenlooper invited Caroline Dias Goncalves, an illegal alien brought illegally into the country as a child now residing on an expired visa; Rep. Seth Moulton invited Marcelo Gomes da Silva, another illegal alien brought illegally into the country as a child and residing on an expired visa; and Sen. Chuck Schumer brought the mother of a detained illegal alien, Dylan Josue Lopez Contreras.
We are not the same.
While Republicans are bringing victims of crimes committed by illegal criminal aliens to the State of the Union, some Democrats in Congress are planning to bring ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Democrats are once again prioritizing illegal aliens above the safety of… https://t.co/ikRZ0Vy5ZX
Ahead of the SOU, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) held a press conference addressing the consequences of softened immigration policies.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh opened the press conference to discuss his American Border Story Memorial Act (H.R. 6643), to establish a memorial in D.C. for victims of illegal alien crime.
“It seems like we’re forgetting about the people who have been victimized by illegal alien crime, and instead focusing on what the leftist media wants to focus on the news of the day,” said Hamadeh.
Also present was the American Border Story, which advocates for angel families: those who lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal aliens. Nicole Kiprilov, executive director, supported Hamadeh’s bill to establish the memorial.
“We will never stop fighting until there isn’t a single family who doesn’t have to endure this devastating loss, ever again,” said Kipperlove.
🚨 LIVE NOW: RSC Press Conference – The Real Cost of Democrat Policies https://t.co/MbxJAS9uG5
Among those angel moms who spoke were Alaska resident Sandy Snodgrass, who lost her son Robert Bruce Snodgrass to fentanyl in 2021; California resident Agnes Gibboney, who lost her son Ronald de Silva to a shooting from a known illegal alien gang member in 2002; and Missouri resident Boni Driskill, who lost her daughter Lacy Marie Ferguson to a drive-by shooting committed by illegal aliens in 2003.
On Monday, President Donald Trump designated Feb. 22 as “Angel Family Day.” In attendance as guests of honor were families of those slain by illegal aliens.
“If you’ve lived the nightmare that we have lived, you understand the importance of the job that he is doing in securing our nation and fighting for our families,” said Riley.
Among Trump’s guests to the SOTU was Dalilah Coleman, a first-grader injured in a car accident caused by an illegal alien driving with a CDL. Trump encouraged Congress to pass the “Delilah Law,” to prohibit states from issuing CDLs to illegal aliens.
During the SOTU, Trump also brought up the 2023 murder of Texas teenager Lizbeth Medina. Medina’s killer, Rafael Romero, was an illegal alien. Medina’s mother, Jacqueline, was also in attendance at the SOTU.
“We’re getting [illegal aliens] the hell out of here fast, we don’t want ‘em,” said Trump. “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Trump announced that “zero” illegal aliens were admitted to the country in the last three months.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Blademir Angulo Audeves, a Mexican national, was arrested on July 8th , 2025, and charged with Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
Angulo made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, July 11th.
Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation in March 2025 following allegations that Angulo was employing undocumented workers, without work authorization, at his taco restaurants in the Phoenix area.
The investigation revealed that at least 12 illegal aliens were working for Angulo, some of whom were residing at his home in Laveen, Arizona, or at a secondary residence on 16th Avenue.
On July 8th, Homeland Security executed federal search warrants at Angulo’s main residence, restaurant locations, and secondary residence.
Agents encountered several Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be in the United States at both residents, arresting them and Angulo.
During the search of his Laveen home, agents found three firearms along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the closet of the master bedroom.
Immigration records show Angulo was previously encountered in the U.S illegally in 2011 and voluntarily departed through Nogales, Arizona, in May of 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Angulo lacked legal permission to be in the U.S., prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At Angulo’s taco restaurants, Homeland Security also identified more Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be present or employed in the U.S.
Two individuals, Christian Sagaste-Garcia and Jose Luis Ambriz-Cortes, were encountered by Homeland Security on the same operation. They were both arrested and charged with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. They had been previously removed from the U.S. in October 2024 and February 2013, respectively.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice Initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and keeping our communities safe.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new incentive on Monday from the Trump administration for illegal aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App. DHS announced that illegal aliens who self-deport using the application will be forgiven for any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart, receive cost-free travel, and will still receive a $1,000 exit bonus to be paid upon confirmation of their return through the app.
The announcement came as violent riots in Los Angeles continued into their fourth day with mounting attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and vehicles.
“If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home,” Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
She appealed to illegal aliens still in the country, “If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return. If you are in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way.”
Today, DHS is announcing illegal aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any failure to depart fines, in addition to cost-free travel and a $1,000 exit bonus.
By self-deporting, illegal aliens take control of their departure and may preserve…
According to reporting from the BBC, and Politico 65, illegal aliens have successfully participated in “Project Homecoming,” and received the offered free travel and $1,000 stipend. DHS told the Daily Signal that over 40,000 illegal aliens had registered with the government via the CBP Home App as of May 5th. As reported by NPR, Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group, estimated that ICE detention centers are currently operating at approximately 125% capacity.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem explained at the time.
ICE confirmed to the outlet that “some ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations. We are actively implementing measures to manage capacity while maintaining compliance with federal standards and our commitment to humane treatment. The reality is that these accusations do not reflect ICE’s policies or practices.”
“This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens, and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” Noem said.
Under the leadership of @POTUS Trump we will put the safety of American citizens FIRST not these criminal illegal aliens that sanctuary city politicians are defending. ICE will continue to enforce the law.
During an appearance on Fox News Monday evening, Noem warned: “ICE will continue to enforce the law. If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
All of Arizona’s 15 counties are now undertaking efforts to remove any illegal aliens from their voter rolls following a lawsuit filed by America First Legal (AFL), a right-wing nonprofit.
There is no certainty as to how many — if any — illegal aliens exist on Arizona’s voter rolls. There are nearly 50,000 individuals registered to vote in the state that only vote in federal races because they did not provide proof of citizenship. These voters are known as “federal-only” voters.
AFL filed its lawsuit last year and secured settlements in waves, first from Yavapai and Mohave counties last year and then the remaining counties last week. Per a press release from AFL on Monday, all 15 county recorders are now obtaining assistance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship status of all registered voters who have not provided proof of citizenship.
AFL explained it filed the lawsuit because it believed the county recorders were not “utilizing all available resources” for citizenship verification, despite Arizona law requiring monthly voter roll maintenance to purge noncitizen voters; federal law also permits state and local to seek confirmation of citizenship status.
AFL senior counsel James Rogers expressed further confidence in Arizona’s election integrity going forward with these settlements.
“This settlement is a great result for all Arizonans. This will help County Recorders find and remove any aliens on their voter rolls,” said Rogers. “It will also potentially enfranchise federal-only voters whose citizenship is confirmed, which would allow them to vote in State and local elections. AFL congratulates each of Arizona’s 15 County Recorders for taking this bold and important step for election integrity in the State.”
AFL filed the lawsuit on behalf of Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona, also known as “EZAZ,” and registered voter Yvonne Cahill.
As reported by AZ Free News, there were over 11,600 federal-only voters who cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election.
On the day of his inauguration earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring the DHS secretary and personnel to equip state and local governments with all necessary resources and tools to secure confirmation of citizenship and immigration status. Trump followed up this directive with another executive order last month directing DHS to share its citizenship and immigration status database with states.
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap said he plans on complying with the settlement once he secures an IT team.
“We will have transparency in our elections. We will have integrity. One citizen, one vote. But I am unable to do that when the office of the Recorder is being deliberately gutted by insiders who like the status quo…” said Heap. “I wasn’t elected to beg unelected bureaucrats for the right to carry out the will of the voters and my statutory duties. Maricopa County needs to stop playing games and let me do my job.”
🧵I am eager to send DHS a request allowing us to check Maricopa County’s voter rolls against their database of non-citizens.
But I can’t do that without an IT team.
I am committed to delivering on the promises I made during my campaign… https://t.co/j4ADGyvOfc
— Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap (@azjustinheap) April 9, 2025
Heap was referring to an ongoing disagreement with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors over the reduction of his office’s authorities under an agreement executed months before Heap took office.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
