Arizona
Arizona Senate advances measure allowing local, state police to arrest migrants illegally crossing border
Arizona senators narrowly approved a proposed ballot measure on Wednesday that would give local law enforcement the authority to arrest people who illegally cross the US-Mexico border into the state.
The proposal, which passed along party lines by a 16-13 vote, would make it a state crime for illegal migrants to enter Arizona from Mexico at any location other than a port of entry – therefore allowing local and state police to arrest them.
It would also allow state judges to send those convicted of the crime, which would be punishable by up to six months in jail for the first offense, back to their country of origin after completing their sentence. Judges could also dismiss a pending charge if the person agrees to return to their home country.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ESCAPE INTO THE US THROUGH GAP IN ARIZONA BORDER WALL
Arizona senators passed a proposed ballot measure on Wednesday that would give local and state police the power to arrest people entering the state illegally via its border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
While it is already illegal at the federal level to make unauthorized entry into the U.S., supporters of the measure said Arizona should be able to deal with the crime itself because the federal government isn’t stopping the increase in crossings.
“Democrat legislators, Katie Hobbs and Joe Biden are failing Arizona. We share your concern. You will have the opportunity to take border security matters into your own hands this November with the Secure the Border Act,” the Arizona Senate GOP posted on its X account on Wednesday.
Supporters also said some of the illegal migrants entering Arizona commit identity theft and take advantage of public benefits.
Opponents believe the proposal, if passed, would hurt Arizona businesses, burden law enforcement and lead to racial profiling of illegal migrants and American citizens.
“HCR2060 will kill-jobs(sic), make it harder for law enforcement to keep us safe and will vilify communities of color,” Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement earlier this month. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe, secure & humane environment at the border to fix the crisis on our hands, but this referral is not the answer.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has been vocal in her opposition to the proposal and vetoed a similar border protection measure in March. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
SWING STATE GOP LOOKS TO GO AROUND DEM GOVERNOR, PUT TEXAS-STYLE BORDER BILL BEFORE VOTERS
A slightly different version of the proposal stalled last week after Republican Sen. Ken Bennett raised concerns over a provision targeting recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which prevents deportation for thousands who arrived in the U.S. as a child.
The earlier version of the proposal would have made DACA recipients subject to prosecution if their protections from deportation were later canceled or deemed unlawful.
That provision was cut from the measure approved on Wednesday and language was added to clarify that the law wouldn’t apply to migrants illegally in Arizona prior to its enforcement.
“I know this is not perfect, but this is a vast improvement of where it was a week ago,” Bennett said.
If passed by the state legislature, Arizona voters will have the opportunity to vote on the measure aimed at better securing the state’s border with Mexico in November. (John Moore/Getty Images)
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The measure now advances to the Republican-controlled House.
If approved by the state legislature as a whole, it will bypass Hobbs – who vetoed a similar proposal in March – and be decided upon by Arizona voters on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — A person accused of making terroristic threats toward a northern Arizona medical facility was arrested Friday morning.
Just after 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a person calling the facility and threatening to kill staff and Native Americans, according to the Page Police Department.
Authorities said staff placed the facility on lockdown until officers identified the suspect and arrested them outside their home.
The suspect was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, threatening and intimidating, and making terroristic threats. Police have not publicly identified the person.
“The Page Police Department is grateful for and supports the medical staff’s decision to put the medical facility into lockdown until the suspect was arrested and the situation was rendered safe,” the department said in a Facebook post.
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In these four-round projections, the Arizona Cardinals don’t get a tackle until the fourth round.
We are just days away from the 2026 NFL draft, and that means some final mock drafts. What direction will the draft take the Arizona Cardinals?
Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy put together a four-round mock draft for the Cardinals. They go defense early but rebuild the offense for 2026 and moving forward, including landing their potential franchise quarterback.
Cardinals 4-round mock draft
Here are the players in the first four rounds Popejoy projects for Arizona.
- Round 1: Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
- Round 2: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
- Round 3: Clemson WR Antonio Williams
- Round 4: Florida OT Austin Barber
What we think of the picks
The Cardinals want to trade out of the third pick and draft a tackle, so not getting a tackle until Round 4 seems unlikely, although they did meet with Barber. They do have options at right tackle for 2026 already on the roster.
Reese would be a great pick if they don’t trade back, as they badly need pass-rushing help off the edge.
Drafting Simpson seems inevitable at this point, so it has to be in a mock draft, although the feeling is they will need to go up into Round 1 again to get him.
Williams has speed and is almost six feet tall, but he does have short arms.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Due to significant injuries to the CB position last year which includes a shoulder surgery for Terrion Arnold, the Lions CB position scored a 6/10 need on my Lions Defensive Draft Need Rankings. Thus, an early-round selection of a young, healthy prospect like Keith Abney would not come as a surprise. He enters the draft with very low medical concern level.
Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Keith Abney:
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Keith Abney, CB (21) – Arizona State
Projected round 2-3. #43 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19.
Concern level 0/10
There is an isolated report of a hand injury but no corroborating information. Even if the hand injury is true, that’s of minimal to no long-term concern.
His availability in his final two seasons has been perfect. Overall, Abney appears to be medically clean and is at an excellent age.
He finished college with 6 INT and 21 PBU.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD
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