An Arizona law ensuring the state’s cooperation with federal enforcement of immigration laws is heading to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk for her possible signature.
The Arizona Immigration, Cooperation and Enforcement Act, commonly known as the AZ ICE Act, was passed by the Arizona House Thursday, two days after Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, addressed a joint session of the Arizona Legislature. The law, Senate Bill 1164, received support from all of the House’s Republicans.
The GOP has a majority in both the House and Senate, which passed the law along party lines Feb. 27.
The AZ ICE Act prohibits state government entities from adopting or enforcing any policies that block or restrict law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities enforcing immigration laws. If cities, towns or counties fail to comply, state legislators may file a complaint with the attorney general to request an investigation. If the attorney general’s investigation shows a state law was violated, state-shared revenues may be withheld from the municipality.
The issue isn’t border militarization, but a broken immigration system and bad foreign policy, said another Democrat, Rep. Anna Abeytia.
Homan addressed the walkout during his speech.
"If they saw what I saw in my 40 years, if they saw what the border sheriffs see everyday on the border, they'd understand, but they’re ignorant," Homan said during his speech. "They don’t want to learn."
“We’re going to enforce the laws of this country without apology so that’s why there’s going to be massive deportations operations because the last administration caused a massive illegal immigration crisis, where 90% of the people shouldn’t be here,” he said.
