Republican-backed legislation requiring state and local law enforcement in Arizona to cooperate with federal immigration authorities is now headed to the state House.
The Arizona Immigration, Cooperation and Enforcement Act passed Thursday in the Senate.
The GOP has majorities in both houses.
If passed by the legislature, the AZ ICE Act, or Senate Bill 1164, will go to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, an advocate of cooperating with immigration authorities on border crimes, for her possible signature.
The AZ ICE Act prohibits state government entities from adopting or enforcing policies that block or restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“Each law enforcement agency shall use its best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration laws,” according to the AZ ICE Act. The legislation requires all law enforcement agencies to enter into an agreement by Jan. 1, 2026, to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill also allows state, municipal and county agencies to enter into agreements with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
The bill, which is supported by the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, requires county sheriffs and the state Department of Corrections to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s requests to continue to detain illegal immigrants who are already in custody. Officials would be required to inform judges hearing criminal cases that suspects are in the U.S. illegally, unless suspects can prove their legal status.
