Senate Republicans Seek AG Kris Mayes' Resignation Over ICE 'Stand Your Ground' Remarks

Arizona Senate Republicans introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for Attorney General Kris Mayes (D-AZ) to resign following public comments she made about ICE agents and the state's self-defense laws.

The controversy began after Mayes appeared in a 12 News interview with Brahm Resnik, where she discussed federal immigration enforcement in the context of Arizona's "Stand Your Ground" law.

The state’s “Stand Your Ground” law gives a person the right to use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger.

During the interview, Mayes raised concerns about some federal immigration officers wearing masks and plain clothes without clear identification.

"It's kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks," Mayes said in the interview. "If you're being attacked by someone who is not identified as a peace officer, how do you know?"

She added that "real cops don't wear masks."

In response, Senate Republicans drafted SCR 1036, a formal resolution expressing disapproval of her statements and requesting her resignation.

What the Senate Seeks to Accomplish

Senate President Warren Petersen (R-AZ) said Mayes's comments created confusion about Arizona law.

"Arizona law is very clear, and the Attorney General blurred lines that should never be blurred," Petersen said. "When you suggest people may be justified in shooting law enforcement, you invite chaos. That confusion puts officers and the public in danger, and it is unacceptable coming from the state's chief legal officer."

Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-AZ) emphasized the influence of the Attorney General's public statements.

"When the Attorney General speaks, people listen," Kavanagh said. "Her words are relied upon by citizens, officers, and public officials alike. Misstatements from that office do not stay theoretical. They carry real-world consequences during traffic stops, arrests, and emergency responses, where hesitation or misunderstanding can turn deadly."

Furthermore, Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R-AZ) explained what the Senate's resolution seeks to accomplish.

"The resolution introduced today expresses the Arizona Senate's disapproval of Mayes' statements, urges her to immediately issue clarifying corrective guidance, and calls on her to resign if she refuses to correct the record," Shope said.

"Arizona law allows the use of force against law enforcement officers only in the most limited and exceptional circumstances. Anything less than precise, accurate guidance undermines public safety, erodes trust in the rule of law, and increases the risk of violent encounters," he concluded.

Currently, Attorney General Mayes has not issued a public statement responding to the resolution or the calls for her resignation.