An Arizona Senate committee has passed legislation that would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, sending the bill to the full Senate for debate. The measure, known as the Arizona ICE Act (SB1164), aims to strengthen collaboration between Arizona law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enhance public safety.
The bill would prohibit state, county, and city law enforcement agencies from interfering with federal immigration enforcement activities. It also authorizes Arizona law enforcement to detain suspected illegal immigrants for up to 24 additional hours to allow federal authorities time to take custody, according to the Arizona Mirror.
Additionally, SB1164 includes provisions to penalize noncompliant agencies and officials. Any police department or government office that refuses to cooperate with ICE could lose state funding. The bill also grants state officials the authority to sue local officials who fail to comply with federal immigration enforcement, while allowing Arizona citizens to file grievances against noncompliant local governments.
The legislation advanced through the committee along party lines, with all Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposed.
Republican Sen. Janae Shamp argued that the bill is necessary to protect Arizona residents from criminal activity associated with illegal immigration. She cited the recent murder of Laken Riley, a Georgia woman allegedly killed by an illegal migrant from Venezuela, as an example of why stricter enforcement is needed.
“This is about making Arizona safer, and the fact of the matter is the citizens of Arizona overwhelmingly voted to secure our border. Our federal government is not going to do it, then we have to do it,” Shamp stated.
However, Democratic Sen. Catherine Miranda denounced the bill, claiming it would create fear within migrant communities and lead to fewer crime reports.
“There will be reduced reporting of violent crimes by vulnerable communities because they won’t act as witnesses out of fear of deportation,” Miranda argued. “There will be increased response times for our law enforcement. Most major agencies are short-staffed and overextended.”
The debate over SB1164 reflects broader national tensions surrounding immigration enforcement. Supporters argue that cooperation with ICE is critical to public safety, while opponents claim such policies discourage migrants from engaging with law enforcement.
With border security a top issue for Arizona voters, the bill’s progress in the state legislature will be closely watched. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in Arizona’s immigration enforcement policies, reinforcing the state’s role in aiding federal authorities amid ongoing concerns about illegal border crossings.
