Gloria Rebecca Gomez

Can the U.S. deport someone who’s lived here for 30 years without an immigration hearing? The woman, a 38-year-old single mother of three children with U.S. citizenship, has been in the U.S. since she was 9 years old.

This is a shocking story: "Can the U.S. deport someone who’s lived here for 30 years without an immigration hearing?"

The Dept. of Homeland Security put a woman who's lived in the US for 30 years in expedited removal, a fast process for deporting someone w/out a court hearing

Over the past two hours, crowds have grown into the hundreds and filled the streets around the intersection. There’s a constant chorus of honks. Scottsdale is very much a red area, but support appears widespread

Susan Coltrara, whose family fled Nazi Germany, said she’s worried about the future: “What’s happening is similar to Germany in the 1930s,” she said. “It scares me to death for our future, and the future of our democracy.”

Good morning from Scottsdale, AZ! Despite the extreme weather advisory (it’s already 87 degrees!) well over 100 protestors are gathered for #NoKingsDay. “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” and “This is what democracy looks like!” among the chants

Arizona’s 15-week abortion ban has been struck down, with a judge ruling that it’s “immediately and permanently and forever” blocked. Repro rights groups filed the lawsuit after voters in Nov made abortion a right via Prop. 139. Access to abortion is now left up to doctors & their patients

News From The States | Fair. Fearless. Free. Breaking stories and latest news trends from state capitals across the country. Relentless reporting on democracy, environment, education, civil rights, and more.

Periodic reminder that you can get news from all 50 states and our DC bureau here. For free! With no ads! You don't have to give anyone your email address or credit card information if you don't want to!

Joe Clure, executive director of the AZ Police Association — the largest law enforcement advocate at the legislature which has more than 12,000 officer members — said the group doesn’t support the “monetizing of arrest decisions of individual officers under any circumstances”

Update on this: an amendment from Hoffman removed the direct compensation from individual police officers and awards the $2500 bonus to the law enforcement agency itself instead. But the incentive for police departments, and by extension officers, to target undocumented folks remains the same

This is just one of several hostile proposals being advanced by the GOP majority, which has taken 2024 election results as a mandate to increase Arizona's involvement in immigration enforcement. Focus is very much on supporting Trump's mass deportation plans

Sponsor of the bill is Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, the leader of the legislature's far-right Freedom Caucus who's built his political profile pushing extreme, controversial bills

It's headed straight for a veto if the GOP majority OKs it. Gov. Hobbs spox said "there's no way in hell" she would sign a tax hike into law, especially not one that "puts a bounty on the heads of innocent people who have worked hard, paid taxes and lived in their communities for decades"

AZ Senate set to discuss a $2,500 bonus for police officers per undocumented immigrant arrested & deported. Bill essentially turns police officers into bounty hunters & bonuses are funded by taxes on foreign wire transfers -- migrants sending remittances home would be forced to fund deportations

Trans people and their allies shout chants and hold up flags, signs outside of Phoenix Children’s Hospital in midtown Phoenix on Feb. 18. A poster on the right reads “Trans Kids Belong Everywhere!” on top of a trans flag background.

Trans people and their allies shout chants and hold up flags, signs outside of Phoenix Children’s Hospital in midtown Phoenix on Feb. 18. An organizer on the left holds a blue sign that reads “Transgender Rights Are Human Rights” in one hand and a combined Palestinian-trans flag in the other.

Trans people and their allies shout chants and hold up flags, signs outside of Phoenix Children’s Hospital in midtown Phoenix on Feb. 18. A protestor in the middle wearing a cowboy hat, Protect Trans Kids shirt & buckled belt holds a “Don’t Tread on Us” poster with trans-flag colored snakes.

Tuesday: Trans folk and their allies marched to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to protest it ending part of a gender-affirming care program for youth age 19 and under.

Trans Queer Pueblo is launching an email campaign to increase community pressure on the CEO and demand that care be reinstated.

Even if the bill passes thru the legislature, it’s likely to be vetoed by Gov. Hobbs. Last year, however, R’s responded to the veto of a high profile anti immigrant bill by packaging it in a ballot measure: Prop 314, which Arizonans overwhelmingly voted for

Bills are sometimes held if there isn’t enough support from stakeholders — in this case that would be the law enforcement community — or from Republicans themselves

Unclear why the bill is still stalled in committee. Sen Catherine Miranda, a Dem who sits on Senate Military Affairs & Border Security which has twice held it said there might be amendments being drafted. Pres Warren Petersen who wrote it hasn’t responded to q’s about it

Immigrant rights advocates demonstrate outside the AZ legislative buildings. “Immigrants are welcome here” & “These racist bills have got to go” among the chants. GOP lawmakers are pushing for the AZ ICE Act which would force police across the state to work with ICE. Bill’s been tabled twice

Air Jordan Tattoo Prompts ICE to Send Venezuelan Migrant to Guantanamo Tattoos have long been used by DHS to falsely accuse migrants of gang affiliations and facilitate expedited removal

NEW from me—

Air Jordan Tattoo Prompts ICE to Send Venezuelan Migrant to Guantánamo Bay

Tattoos have long been used by DHS to falsely accuse migrants of gang affiliations and facilitate expedited removal
migrantinsider.com/p/air-jordan...

or the non-issue, really!

thanks to You, for a great & timely read! have been seeing a lot of chatter on the topic lately and this helped clarify the issue for me

"What has the American flag at immigrant rights rallies accomplished? Great photo ops, sure, but the hard hearts of Republican lawmakers haven’t melted in all these years. Besides, Trump would deport an immigrant singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in front of Old Glory if he had the chance."

Correction: bill would require all hospitals that participate in AHCCCS to quiz every patient on their immigration status via a patient intake form. Vast majority of hospitals in AZ work with AHCCCS, so this would affect virtually all undocumented people who go to the ER for help

Sharing this from Rt. Rev. Jonathan H. Folts, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota.

“One of our own priests was targeted at his home—so let no one say, ‘it can’t happen here.’ It can. It has. It is. And rest assured, we will not remain silent or passive in responding.”

My heart aches.

Joe Kent, the guy Trump is nominating to lead his counterterrorism division, employed Proud Boys and Patriot Front members, met with Nick Fuentes and sat down with a neo-Nazi YouTuber for an interview.

Unrelated but interesting, the Senate Military Affairs & Border Security Committee was scheduled to hear the AZ ICE Act today, which seeks to force all law enforcement agencies in the state to work with ICE. Was struck from the agenda.

“No more ICE!” Crowd is repeatedly circling the plaza, between the AZ House & state Senate. Legislature is still in session, unlikely that lawmakers will step out while the protest is ongoing

Protest at the AZ Capitol - dozens speaking out against mass deportation policies. One of several public protests that have happened in the past week. “Protect immigrant families” and “Stop breaking up families” among the chants

Bill passes 4-3, with only Republicans in favor and all Democrats on the panel opposed. Important to note with vocal Democrat opposition, it's likely destined to meet Gov. Katie Hobbs' veto pen, as she's said before bipartisan agreement is key

The Arizona Medical Association, a statewide membership organization of medical professionals and doctors, is opposed to the bill

Noah Schramm, with the ACLU of AZ, questions what the data gathered could be used for next -- would lawmakers in the future decide to cut funding for hospitals that serve immigrants? Would ICE agents stake out those hospitals?