Joe Clure, executive director of the Arizona Police Association, said comments by Attorney General Kris Mayes regarding potential ICE deployments and stand-your-ground laws risk encouraging violence against federal law enforcement officers.
Clure issued a statement highlighting that Mayes described scenarios where deadly force might be justified against ICE agents based on their appearance. He noted that such framing is problematic as officers often work in plain clothes. Clure emphasized that elected officials should refrain from politicizing enforcement issues and instead focus on solutions that ensure officer safety.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently conducted searches at 15 locations in the Phoenix area linked to a sports grill chain as part of a criminal investigation. Officials reported that 87 individuals had illegally re-entered the country, resulting in 45 arrests for illegal entry. The operation involved federal agents but was not classified as an ICE raid.
According to data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the detainee population has reached a record high of 73,000 people facing deportation nationwide, representing an 84 percent increase from the previous year. Most detainees are single adults, with a smaller number being family units detained for immigration violations.
The Arizona Police Association represents over 12,000 officers from more than 50 agencies across the state. It advocates for public safety policies and officer support while fostering partnerships between law enforcement and communities.
