Arizona Republicans seek coordination between ICE, local authorities – The Center Square

Photo: Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen by Gage Skidmore

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen introduced legislation on Tuesday to help federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with their efforts under President Donald Trump.

Senate Bill 1164 would require the state prison system and sheriffs’ departments to create “memorandums of agreement” to ensure cohesion between the agencies and ICE by the start of next year, in hopes to targeting people who are in the United States illegally but are in the correctional system, including “local custody,” according to a news release.

The news release adds that the agreements are covered under “section 287(g)” of federal law.

“Ending the border crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. This commonsense legislation will not only allow federal and local law enforcement to work together to protect our citizens, but it will also prevent government obstruction,” Petersen said in a statement on his proposal, dubbed the “AZ ICE Act.”

Petersen said that Arizonans will believe in the sentiment of the legislation following the passage of Prop. 314, or the “Secure the Border Act” in November, which could allow local and state authorities to enforce federal immigration laws, including detaining those suspected of crossing the border illegally, if that aspect of the proposition holds up in federal court.

“Arizona voters spoke loud and clear last November. They overwhelmingly approved the ‘Secure the Border Act’ that Republicans referred to the ballot because they want the law enforced, and they want safe communities. I look forward to the AZ ICE Act passing the Legislature, and I’m hopeful the Governor will listen to our citizens by signing the bill when it hits her desk,” he continued.

The legislation bluntly states that “each law enforcement agency shall use its best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

If the proposal makes it through the Republican-majority legislature, it will land on the desk of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

While Hobbs has said that she supports some border security measures, especially when it comes to drug trafficking, she has maintained a skeptical and critical tone when it comes to certain immigration proposals from Republicans, including opposing Prop. 314. The Hobbs administration doled out declarations on Tuesday affirming support for birthright citizenship following an Executive Order from Trump seeking to end the practice.