Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a Republican-sponsored bill Friday that would have required state and local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The bill was designed to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy by mandating compliance with federal detainer requests and prohibiting local jurisdictions from restricting such cooperation.
The legislation required local jails and state prisons to detain individuals with immigration holds until federal agents could take custody. It also mandated that courts be notified when a detainee had an immigration hold, and allowed the state attorney general to investigate and sue agencies failing to comply. Local governments risked losing state-shared revenue if found in violation.
Governor Hobbs rejected the bill, stating, “we should not force state and local officials to take marching orders from Washington.” She said she supports border security but opposes what she characterized as top-down federal enforcement mandates.
Supporters of the bill, including Senate President Warren Petersen, argued it would make Arizona a cooperative partner in immigration enforcement, especially under President Trump’s administration. They contend that releasing individuals before ICE can detain them risks allowing criminal aliens to reenter communities undetected.
Opponents claimed the bill would impose financial burdens on local agencies and hinder community policing efforts by creating fear among immigrant populations. Critics also raised concerns over past legal issues tied to Arizona’s previous immigration laws, including racial profiling cases during Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s tenure.
This veto is the latest in an ongoing standoff between Hobbs and the GOP-controlled Legislature. Hobbs has vowed to veto all legislation until lawmakers agree to resolve a funding issue for the state’s developmental disabilities agency. The conflict reflects deeper tensions over border policy, state sovereignty, and federal cooperation under President Trump’s renewed efforts to secure the southern border.
