Arizona lawmakers on ICE detaining people at immigration court hearings in Phoenix

(KYMA, KECY) - Lawmakers in the state of Arizona are demanding answers after learning about agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining people who were attending their immigration court hearings in Phoenix last week.

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly (D) and Ruben Gallego (D), along with Arizona Representatives Greg Stanton (D-District 4) and Yassamin Ansari (D-District 3), wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons writing in part:

"As lawmakers representing a border state, we know firsthand the impact that decades of federal inaction have had on Arizona and our border communities, and we have been relieved to see illegal border crossings continue to decrease since mid-2024. However, targeting immigrants without a criminal record who are following the law by showing up for their scheduled immigration hearing has only created chaos and does not make our communities safer.

These tactics make our immigration system less efficient and fair and discourage individuals from appearing for future hearings. In Phoenix, we have seen individuals denied the right to make their case and placed in a fast-track deportation process. This has the effect of denying protection and due process to those who need it most while preventing the court from discovering frivolous asylum claims."

The lawmakers also said focusing their enforcement resources on "targeting noncriminal immigrants" rather than focusing on violent criminals and drug traffickers "doesn't make Arizona communities safer."

"Instead, finite ICE resources should be focused on removing individuals who pose genuine threats to public safety, such as gang members and violent offenders, not people complying with the law," the lawmakers expressed.

To read the letter in full, click here.