Concerns Rise Over Potential Increase of Immigration Agents in Phoenix
Speculation about a potential increase in immigration enforcement personnel in Phoenix has prompted Sen. Ruben Gallego to voice concerns about racial profiling and urge Arizonans to stay alert.
The discussion follows a report by the Bulwark, a center-right publication, indicating that ICE might expand its presence in Phoenix, similar to its strategy in other Democrat-led cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. Gallego clarified that he has not received any new intelligence regarding ICE’s plans. “We have reached out to get more information,” he stated on Friday. “We know that there is something coming at some point.”
Protests have erupted in Arizona and nationwide following the incident in Minneapolis where an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen. Gallego criticized the agency, asserting it has overstepped its immigration enforcement role.
“Anything that involves law enforcement has to have a certain amount of responsibility when it comes to how you deal with the public, and what we saw in Minnesota was not a good example,” Gallego remarked. “There needs to be reforms to ICE.”
President Donald Trump and other officials have defended the agent, claiming he acted in self-defense. However, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz criticized the administration for allegedly influencing the investigation’s outcome. The FBI has ceased cooperation with state-level law enforcement in the investigation.
Gallego further accused ICE of racial profiling. “How ICE is being used is not to go after criminals. It’s to do racial profiling. It’s to intimidate the local population,” he asserted.
In the event of an increased ICE presence, Gallego advised Arizonans to protest peacefully and ensure they are carrying identification such as IDs or passports. “Because they are not afraid to detain us citizens for as long as they can,” he warned. “We in this office are gonna do everything we can to hold them accountable, to stop their goonish natures and to protect the people of Arizona.”
Gallego is exploring measures to curb the agency’s powers, including supporting legislation proposed by Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy aimed at reforming the Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent organization. Axios reported that the upcoming legislation would propose reforms such as requiring warrants for arrests and prohibiting agents from wearing masks during operations.
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