Arizona lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 1164, a bill requiring local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration efforts.
Governor Katie Hobbs (D) is expected to veto the bill.
Under the bill, also called the Arizona ICE Act, state government entities are prohibited from “adopting or enforcing any policies that block or restrict law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities to enforce federal immigration laws. If cities, towns, or counties fail to comply, state lawmakers may file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General requesting an investigation, also known as a 1487,” the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus explained in a press release.
“I applaud my colleagues in both the House and Senate for supporting this vital action to help safeguard our communities from dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” Senate President Warren Peterson said in a statement. “I also owe a big ‘thank you’ to our sheriffs, especially Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, for continuous collaboration and support on this legislation.”
“After worthwhile deliberation, the AZ ICE Act will soon be on the governor’s desk for her consideration. For the good of our state, I hope she signs this bill. It’s time for the Governor to put politics and partisan animosity towards President Trump aside,” Peterson continued. “Our citizens deserve nothing less than all levels of government cooperating to uphold our laws and protect innocent men, women, and children from the harms caused by the Biden Administration’s open border policies.”
In February, Governor Hobbs created a task force to assist in combatting cartels along the southern border. The task force, called Operation Desert Guardian, partners with local law enforcement.
