PHOENIX, Ariz. — Arizona sheriffs say they have not yet been ordered to assist with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown—and many would prefer to keep it that way.
“We’re not going to go out and actively try to hunt people down,” said Graham County Sheriff Preston Allred. “We have never done that. We don’t do that type of stuff.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos agreed, saying, “There’s just nowhere in my duties or responsibilities as the sheriff here that I should be involved or engaged in migrant round-ups. That’s not what we’re here to do.”
Tensions Rise Over Immigration Enforcement
Trump has vowed to detain and deport an estimated 11 million undocumented people, including 273,000 in Arizona, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a longtime Trump ally, said immigration laws should be enforced strictly.
“If you have laws, they shouldn’t be there and be ignored,” Arpaio said.
Once known as “America’s toughest sheriff,” Arpaio was pardoned by Trump in 2017 after being convicted of defying a federal order to stop racial profiling in immigration enforcement.
State Lawmakers Push for Local Enforcement
Some Arizona lawmakers want to make cooperation with federal authorities mandatory. State Senate President Warren Petersen has introduced a bill that would require every law enforcement agency in Arizona to sign agreements with ICE and actively support federal immigration enforcement.
Currently, only Yavapai, Pinal, and La Paz counties, as well as the city of Mesa, have 287(G) agreements that allow local officers to assist in immigration enforcement.
“We are going to agree to house individuals for ICE if they’re determined to be detained and deported,” said La Paz County Sheriff William Ponce.
Sheriffs Fear Impact on Public Trust
Critics argue that forcing local law enforcement to help with immigration enforcement could damage community trustand distract from local policing priorities.
“We already have enough need for them to protect property and individual humans,” said José Patiño, an advocate with the immigrant rights group Aliento.
Some sheriffs worry that communities will be less likely to report crimes if they fear law enforcement will turn them over to ICE.
“Community members will be afraid to report crimes or interact with law enforcement if the department enforces immigration law,” said an aide to Coconino County Sheriff Bret Axlund.
Prop. 314 and the Future of Local Immigration Policy
Arizona’s Proposition 314, passed by voters in November 2024, makes crossing the border illegally a state crime and allows state judges to order deportations. However, that provision is currently on hold, pending a court ruling on a similar Texas law.
Many Arizona sheriffs opposed Prop. 314, arguing that enforcing it would overwhelm local resources.
“It mandates local law enforcement to do a federal job because the federal government was not doing it,” said Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, president of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association.
The ACLU of Arizona has also warned that Prop. 314 could increase racial profiling and harassment of immigrants.
Maricopa County’s New Direction
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, which was once at the center of Arizona’s hardline immigration enforcement, has distanced itself from Arpaio’s legacy.
Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, elected in 2024, has stated he does not plan to enforce Prop. 314 and has promised to focus on community engagement rather than immigration enforcement.
Arpaio Stands by His Policies
Despite his controversial past, Arpaio defended his approach, saying strict enforcement is the best deterrent.
“I put tents up. It was a popular program,” Arpaio said. “Half a million, including illegal aliens, went in those tents. … If there is a will, there is always a way to get the job done.”
As Arizona remains at the center of the national immigration debate, sheriffs, lawmakers, and activists continue to clash over the role of local law enforcement in Trump’s aggressive deportation plan.
