Democrat Governor Vetoes Legislation Requiring Local Officials Enforce Federal Immigration Orders

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation requiring local officials to cooperate with all federal immigration laws and facilitate mass deportations within the state.

“Arizonans, not Washington, DC politicians, must decide what’s best for Arizona. I have worked productively with the federal government to secure our border, stopping fentanyl at our ports of entry through Task Force SAFE, disrupting cartel operations with Operation Desert Guardian, and working across all levels of government to keep communities safe with the Border Coordination Office,” Hobbs wrote.

“I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state officials to take marching orders from Washington, DC. My focus will always be on delivering real results for Arizonans,” she added.

BREAKING: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoes a bill ordering her and the Attorney General to enforce federal immigration laws. pic.twitter.com/jmdakEkOyC

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 3, 2025

A closer look:

Per Arizona Mirror:

In her veto letter for HB2099, Hobbs chastised GOP lawmakers for attempting to handcuff Arizona’s elected leaders, and reminded them that their responsibility is to defend the country’s and state’s constitutions, not hand over the decision-making to federal officials.

“When I assumed the role of Governor, I pledged to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Arizona Constitution, as did each of you,” she wrote. “Arizonans, not Washington, D.C. politicians, must decide what’s best for Arizona.”

Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, have both been vocal critics of Trump’s mass deportation promise and his administration’s continued disregard for court directives or due process protections. Hobbs has repeatedly vetoed legislation intended to increase the degree to which Arizona is involved with federal immigration enforcement actions and Mayes has sued Trump over his bid to end birthright citizenship and warned that she would actively oppose efforts to set up family detention facilities in the state.

In response to the duo’s resistance, Rep. Teresa Martinez pushed to force their cooperation. The bill immediately prompted outrage when the Republican from Casa Grande conceded that entangling the state with federal immigration authorities would result in the “collateral” deportations of people’s relatives.

Arizona Democrat governor Katie Hobbs VETOES bill requiring local officials to help with federal immigration efforts.

How should Tom Homan respond? pic.twitter.com/u8LZAhOm1W

— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) May 3, 2025

Hobbs also vetoed legislation requiring county detention facilities to provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with personal information upon request of individuals arrested for non-violent offenses such as burglary and shoplifting.

12News reports:

This bill would have made it so county jails must provide identifying information for people arrested for certain crimes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement would have required the jails to comply with any requests made by ICE, with some exceptions.

Hobbs said she vetoed this bill because “Existing state law already bans sanctuary localities. I expect state and local governments to uphold the law and work with the federal government to secure the border.”