Article Summary –
In Arizona, increased immigration enforcement has prompted citizens, including veterans like Raul Piña, to carry extra identification due to heightened ICE activity and racial profiling fears. Local communities and advocacy groups are responding with support networks and rights education amid concerns over civil liberties.
PHOENIX – Raul Piña begins each day before sunrise, taking his Rottweiler, Beau, for a walk in Buckeye. His routine involves dressing, gearing up Beau, and stepping into the cool 5 a.m. air.
Recently, Piña, like many in Arizona, finds himself carrying extra ID forms, sparked by increased immigration enforcement.
MORE: Arizona Republicans push for ICE at polling locations
“It’s a new habit,” says Piña, a U.S. citizen. “I think about my wallet, phone, flashlight, and now, my passport.”
Heightened ICE presence in Phoenix has many residents on alert, affecting everyday ID habits.
Reports highlight growing fear of workplace immigration raids and wrongful detentions.
Piña, an Air Force vet, finds the need for a passport unsettling: “Where does it end? Do I need my DD-214?”
DD Form 214, a Department of Defense document, is often carried by veterans like Piña.
Memories of life under Sheriff Joe Arpaio resurface for many, including Piña, due to SB 1070, Arizona’s “papers, please” law.
Although the Supreme Court blocked parts of SB 1070, the “show me your papers” provision persists with limitations.
A 2025 Supreme Court case, Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, allowed racial profiling in immigration stops, intensifying concerns.
Piña and others worry about profiling with ICE’s tactics, echoing fears from the Melendres v. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office case.
Despite Arpaio’s pardon, advocates hoped Melendres would end such practices.
“These tactics have spread,” Piña admits, referring to SB 1070-style enforcement spreading nationwide.
Local advocates cite recent HSI raids on Valley restaurants as ongoing threats.
Jonah Phung, an Arizona resident, says ICE’s methods are broader than SB 1070, targeting diverse communities.
After seeing community detentions in Minnesota, Phung’s family carries extra ID.
No More Deaths’ Christy Stewart leads Know Your Rights training in Tucson, ensuring communities stay informed.
Her rapid response team supports neighbors, ensuring safety during ICE operations.
Stewart recently assisted American children to school as part of these efforts.
DHS practices impact Indigenous nations, as seen when ICE detained a Navajo citizen.
The Navajo Nation and other communities urge members to know their rights.
Todd Middleton, from Chinle, Arizona, carries additional ID, driven by recent detentions.
“History is repeating,” Middleton warns, reflecting on Navajo history parallels.
In Mesa, immigrant communities unite for safety, sharing resources via group chats.
Dana Cardena’s family now carries Social Security cards despite having work authorizations, illustrating heightened precautions.
Recent events changed Cardena’s mother’s mind, urging her daughter to keep her passport close.
“It’s racial targeting,” Cardena said, voicing concerns over ethnic profiling.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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