Arizona

Arizona lawmakers demand answers over Phoenix immigration court arrests

Published

1 month ago

May 29, 2025

Arizona lawmakers demand answers over Phoenix immigration court arrests

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Some Arizona lawmakers are demanding answers on what has been happening outside a Phoenix immigration court recently.

On Wednesday, four Arizona Democrats sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. It came from Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, as well as Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton.

The letter comes after tense protests last week. For two days straight, ICE agents were at Phoenix immigration court, arresting people there for routine hearings and putting them into vans. That second day turned chaotic with protestors and officers getting physical.

“That pattern of dismissal and detainment kind of slowed down towards the end of the week, but unfortunately, today we did see more people detained at the immigration court,” said state Sen. Analise Ortiz, a Democrat from the West Valley.

She has been showing up to immigration court to support migrants at their hearings, and says ICE was there again on Wednesday, but it was different this time. “People were actually being told they could leave the courthouse, so they were driving off of the property and then being stopped and detained down the street. Someone relayed to me that a toddler was detained. This is just horrible, and this is inhumane,” said Ortiz.

The letter poses three main questions, with the first being how many people has ICE arrested and detained at an immigration court during the week of May 19 and how many have been placed in expedited removal?

The second asks for copies of all guidance and written directives associated with this recent ICE action, and the third asks how ICE is complying with requirements for screening individuals for fear of persecution.

The letter also says the Democratic lawmakers believe tactics like this make the immigration process less fair and efficient and undermine the Trump administration’s goal of targeting criminals who are public safety threats.

“A lot of these individuals who are in deportation proceedings (or) immigration proceedings, they don’t have a criminal history,” said immigration attorney Sheree Wright with IBF Law Group.

She has been volunteering to advise migrants at their hearings. “When it comes to safety, these are not criminals,” said Wright.

Arizona’s Family also spoke to a former Phoenix-based ICE agent who was in the field for 22 years. He wanted to remain anonymous.

The former agent said arrests like the ones at the immigration court are not new. He also said they are safer for the public, the officers, and the detainees because there is a screening process at places like court buildings. According to the former officer, when they detain someone, they often go through what is called “custody redetermination” to see if the migrant should continue with their immigration proceedings or be placed in expedited removal.

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Arizona

White Sage Fire: Northern Arizona wildfire prompts evacuations

Published

15 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Press Room

White Sage Fire: Northern Arizona wildfire prompts evacuations

COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. – Crews in northern Arizona are currently battling a wildfire that has burned over 400 acres of land.

What we know:

According to the federal government website InciWeb, the White Sage Fire was sparked by lightning, and began on July 9. The fire began around 1.5 miles from the community of White Sage, and about 15 miles to the southeast of Fredonia.

Information on the acres burned differs, as InciWeb reports the fire is at 431 acres with 0% containment, while another wildfire website, Watch Duty, reports the fire is at 1,000 acres.

Evacuations ordered

Big picture view:

According to Watch Duty, the immediate area of Jacob Lake is currently under a “SET” status for evacuations, while the following areas are under “GO” status, meaning residents should evacuate:

All areas north of Jacob Lake
All areas south of Jacob Lake, to Forest Service Road 212

In addition, all visitors to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim are being asked to evacuate.

Meanwhile, ADOT officials say U.S. Highway 89A is closed in both directions at milepost 595 because of the fire.

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Pat Tillman legacy embraced by Arizona State football leaders in new apparel

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2025

Press Room

Pat Tillman legacy embraced by Arizona State football leaders in new apparel

FRISCO, Texas — The Arizona State football team is on quite a roll. The Sun Devils were one of the star attractions as Big 12 football media days got underway at The Star in Frisco. ASU is the reigning conference champion, and the athletic program was recognized as the top team in the conference, combining athletics and academics.

The Sun Devils may have also been the best-dressed team, too. Early in the day, the players sported uniforms for interviews and photo shoots. After lunch, the players emerged in suits. Not just any suits. The suits had inside linings emblazoned with Pat Tillman Foundation branding. The pockets featured white handkerchiefs, with the Pat Tillman statue peeking out.

All players also had pitchfork lapel pins gifted to them by ASU athletic director Graham Rossini earlier in the day.

Sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt was the easiest to spot. He was decked out in powder blue. His favorite target, junior Jordyn Tyson was in gray. Xavion Alford donned dark blue with center Ben Coleman in another shade of the color.

ASU had six players at media day, but all 11 members of the team’s leadership council have the same Tillman-emblazoned suits for other team-related occasions.

“We started the leadership council when I first got here, and Pat Tillman is an iconic person in ASU history,” safety Xavion Alford said. “It feels good to represent that legacy. We want to embrace that and make that a foundation for what we are doing.”

Alford said it was the leadership council’s idea.

“We wanted to show it off,” he said. “We feel like it’s a badge of honor to come here. Our team unity is why we play the way we do on the field, and this probably shows that off a little bit. We play hard for each other because we really care about each other.”

Some players were willing to pass around compliments when asked if they were the best-dressed team.

“I have to give credit to Kansas State. They’re pretty decked out too,” Coleman said. “They have good colors to work with, which helps.”

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

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Diamondbacks place closer Shelby Miller on injured list

Published

4 days ago

July 7, 2025

Press Room

Diamondbacks place closer Shelby Miller on injured list

SAN DIEGO — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed closer Shelby Miller on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain ahead of Monday’s game at the San Diego Padres, yet another gut punch when it comes to their bullpen.

Arizona recalled right-hander Juan Morillo from Triple-A Reno in Miller’s place.

The Diamondbacks already lost co-closers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez to season-ending elbow surgeries and recently placed reliever Ryan Thompson on the IL (scapular strain).

Without Miller to close games, the Diamondbacks have Kevin Ginkel, Jalen Beeks, Kyle Backhus, John Curtiss, Jake Woodford and Morillo to pick from in the ninth inning if the opportunity arises. Bryce Jarvis and Anthony DeSclafani threw bulk innings on Sunday.

Miller took over the closer role in the absence of Puk and Martinez, as he has been the most reliable arm in Arizona’s bullpen throughout this season.

In 37 appearances, Miller sports a 1.98 ERA with an 0.96 WHIP. He’s picked up 10 saves in a redemption arc for him with this franchise.

The Diamondbacks infamously traded No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson for Miller ahead of the 2016 season, a deal that backfired as Miller failed to live up to his billing as an All-Star starting pitcher in 2015. Miller made only 29 appearances across three seasons with a 6.35 ERA.

Miller later revived his big league career as a reliever, and after a couple solid seasons, he returned to Arizona this past spring training on a minor league deal. He made the team out of camp and has been a mainstay since.

Morillo returns after getting optioned on July 2. The D-backs were able to bring him back before the mandatory 15 days down since he is replacing an injured player.

The fire-throwing righty has made 28 big league appearances as a rookie with a 4.01 ERA, 25 strikeouts and 13 walks across 24.2 innings.

The severity of Miller’s injury is not yet known publicly, and this is a developing story.

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