by Staff Reporter | May 8, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
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.
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.
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.
by Staff Reporter | May 5, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Attorney General Kris Mayes defended the city of Phoenix’s new policy that prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from entering city property without permission.
Mayes published a 17-page investigative report last week determining the city’s action doesn’t limit or restrict enforcement of federal immigration law.
In March, Phoenix City Council approved a resolution requiring law enforcement to obtain permission from the city prior to conducting operations on property owned or controlled by the city.
Mayes ruled that requiring the city to allow federal immigration enforcement access to city property was equivalent to requiring local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which the federal law does not require.
“With limited exceptions, federal law does not purport to compel the states’ participation in immigration enforcement, and therefore generally permits localities to refuse cooperation with immigration enforcement activities,” stated Mayes.
Further on in the report, Mayes determined that immigration enforcement would need to obtain a judicial warrant or consent to access non-public city property without permission. Mayes said law enforcement has ample freedom to carry out immigration enforcement on public property, namely public rights-of-way, the airport, and Phoenix Municipal Court.
“This means that federal immigration officials are not presumptively prohibited from staging an enforcement operation on, for example, Phoenix sidewalks, and need not seek the City Manager’s advanced approval before commencing such operations,” wrote Mayes. “In this way, the Regulation simply designates how the City will decide whether to grant the consent to access non-public areas of City-owned property that federal law already requires immigration officials to obtain; it delegates that decision to the City Manager, in consultation with the Police Chief.”
Copied on this report were Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), and State Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD01). Nguyen requested the report; per state law, which triggers an investigation by the attorney general.
Another one of Mayes’ interpretations of the law as it relates to ICE has been widely contested.
The attorney general made the case in a January interview that individuals had justification for shooting masked ICE agents under Arizona’s “Stand Your Ground” law.
“It’s kind of a recipe for disaster. Because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks,” said Mayes. “[The] law says that if you reasonably believe your life is in danger and you’re in your house or your car or on your property that you could defend yourself with lethal force.”
Mayes’ defense for justified shootings of ICE agents sparked bipartisan controversy. Gov. Hobbs said it was “inappropriate,” possibly dangerous, and needed to be retracted. The new chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, Sergio Arellano, said it was “reckless” and a direct endangerment of law enforcement. Legislative leaders censured Mayes.
Amid the fallout over Mayes’ remarks, anti-ICE activists have taken to vandalizing the ICE Phoenix Field Office with death threats.
Last week Mayes filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to stop its planned ICE detention facility in Surprise.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 28, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing to stop the construction of a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Surprise.
Mayes announced the lawsuit on Friday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to renovate a vacant warehouse it purchased in January for about $70 million into an immigration detention facility.
Mayes also hosted a press conference to announce the lawsuit. Present with her were Senate Assistant Minority Leader Catherine Miranda (D-LD11) and State Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-LD24).
Mayes claimed the federal government failed to hold public forums and conduct the proper environmental reviews.
The attorney general also argued the federal government needed permission prior to acting on this immigration enforcement initiative.
“The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this,” said Mayes. “They did not ask the parents of the students that attend any of the schools near this site if they were okay with this. They did not ask the firefighters and paramedics, who would be the first to respond if something went wrong, if this was a good idea.”
Mayes accused the Trump administration of violating federal laws, to include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).
“The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country,” said Mayes. “The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this facility in their backyards. They simply bought a warehouse, handed a $300 million contract to a private company and told the City to deal with it.”
The city of Surprise issued a public statement saying the DHS purchase of the facility was news to them. The city also emphasized that it didn’t have the power to assist or interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
“The City was not aware that there were efforts underway to purchase the building, was not notified of the transaction by any of the parties involved and has not been contacted by DHS or any federal agency about the intended use of the building. It’s important to note, Federal projects are not subject to local regulations, such as zoning,” said the city. “When it comes to immigration enforcement, local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws; Surprise Police Department enforces local and state laws. While we do not participate in ICE operations, we also cannot interrupt or prevent their operations.”
The lawsuit filed in the Arizona District Court alleges the facility is unsuitable for mass detainment based on claims that the location lacks the appropriate water and wastewater infrastructure, and the location exists across the street from a chemical storage facility as well as two public schools.
Several hundred followed up the attorney general’s lawsuit with a protest over the weekend. An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that they had evaluated the use of existing facilities to minimize potential impacts on the environment, including protected species, natural resources, and cultural resources.
“Let’s be honest about what is happening. This isn’t about the environment,” said the spokesperson. “It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Since taking office last November, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) has made it clear that defending illegal aliens in her district against deportation will remain a priority.
Unlike her Republican colleagues, Grijalva treats those considered illegal aliens residing in her district as her constituents. To her, citizenship doesn’t determine who qualifies as an American.
“In my district, families span generations, borders, and cultures — but they are unequivocally American,” said Grijalva.
In her criticism of President Donald Trump’s promise to prioritize the “worst of the worst” for deportation proceedings, Grijalva has indicated the need for additional justification when deporting those whose only apparent crime was crossing the border and remaining in the country illegally.
Of the approximately 50 press releases Grijalva has issued since taking office, nearly half were issued in defense of illegal aliens and opposition to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Of her approximately 200 posts on X, nearly one-third were posts in defense of illegal aliens as valid Arizona residents, demanding the abolition of ICE, or opposition to immigration enforcement efforts.
Of her 14 remarks in the congressional record (excluding recognitions and honorings of individuals), three were focused on opposing ICE and stricter immigration enforcement.
Grijalva has made good on her repeated promise to investigate and provide oversight of ICE detention facilities. She has conducted three visits to the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, and Florence Federal Detention Facility in Florence.
The congresswoman has participated in at least eight protests against ICE and this administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Last month, Grijalva offered compromise on her refusal to pass DHS funding through her introduction of two amendments. These amendments, not adopted, would have required federal agencies to obtain tribal government approval for immigration enforcement actions on tribal lands, and prohibited the federal government from creating or maintaining lists of individuals protesting at immigration enforcement activities.
The same day, Grijalva demanded the dismantling of ICE.
Grijalva’s commitment is reflected through her actions, notably the significant volume of her constituent work dedicated to illegal aliens.
The congresswoman has participated in at least three forums in her district addressing ICE activity. One forum that Grijalva co-hosted with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero focused on advising illegal aliens of their rights and best ways to avoid immigration enforcement activity.
Earlier this month, Grijalva and Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) hosted one such forum to brief the community on ICE’s “mass detention centers” in Arizona. Grijalva and Ansari heard testimonies from several illegal aliens and their family members.
In February Grijalva visited and successfully advocated for the release of one Cuban illegal alien seeking asylum, Julia Benitez, who was detained at the Eloy Detention Center.
Then, Grijalva escorted Benitez to the airport. Benitez’s flight was arranged by the Phoenix-based nonprofit Helping With All My Heart (HWAMH).
The nonprofit’s website claims it has operated emergency shelters across the Valley for illegal aliens seeking asylum since 2018. However, tax filings reflect that, up until 2022, HWAMH’s mission statement only reflected work helping the homeless and those with addictions to “find a job and return to society.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 8, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Republican lawmakers are challenging Pima County over its resolution to prevent federal immigration enforcement from using county property.
House and Senate leadership filed a complaint with Attorney General Kris Mayes on Monday requesting an SB1487 Investigation. There is only one other active complaint under this designation, relating to a similar regulation prohibiting federal immigration enforcement activity on city property passed by the city of Phoenix.
In February, Pima County adopted a resolution, “Protecting County-Owned Properties,” prohibiting county departments, agencies, and employees from giving federal officials access to county buildings without a court warrant. The policy also barred departments, agencies, and employees from voluntarily assisting, facilitating, or cooperating with immigration enforcement.
The policy also prohibited county property from being used for staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases for immigration enforcement. The county defined staging area to include an assembling, mobilization, or deployment of vehicles, equipment, materials, or personnel for immigration enforcement.
Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott told AZPM that federal agents would have to justify themselves to county officials.
“If somebody with an enforceable warrant comes in, wanting to deal with what we’ve heard are the ‘worst of the worst,’ they’re going to be able to do that,” said Scott. “These warrantless, random sweeps that we’ve been seeing around the country are not going to happen on county property.”
Pima County Supervisor Tanya Nunez went a step further. She told KOLD that ICE needed to cease operations entirely.
“It’s a first step, it’s an important step, but it is really just the beginning. We need to have ICE not operate anywhere in our community, not just county property,” said Nunez.
According to the supervisors, the goal of the resolution was to prevent mass deportations and to limit immigration agents to warrant-based actions.
GOP leadership in the legislature say this resolution violates Arizona law prohibiting subdivisions of the state from limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws, and the Supremacy Clause included in the Arizona Constitution.
Senate President Warren Petersen called the resolution a “radical” undermining of public safety in a press release.
“We’re seeing Democrat-run local governments put radical political agendas ahead of public safety,” said Petersen. “Instead of supporting law enforcement and protecting their citizens from crime, they’re creating barriers that make it harder to enforce the law and easier for criminals to stay in our communities.”
Senate President Pro Tempore TJ Shope argued these patchwork mandates from municipalities would only undermine law and order.
“This is about making sure our laws are applied consistently across Arizona,” said Shope. “When one county decides to go rogue, it creates gaps that undermine enforcement statewide. Arizonans expect coordination between all levels of government, not policies that tie the hands of law enforcement.”
House Majority Leader John Kavanagh questioned whether Mayes would have an biased approach, given her outspoken criticisms of ICE.
“Given her record and her public opposition to immigration enforcement, there is a serious question about whether she can review this case objectively. This is not a policy debate. The law is clear, and it must be applied,” said Kavanagh.
The city of Phoenix passed a regulation similar to Pima County’s resolution last month.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
