State Senator Catherine Miranda (D-AZ) is calling it a victory for the rule of law after a Maricopa County judge voided Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller's (R-AZ) unauthorized immigration enforcement agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 15.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Alexander Gordon determined that Miller acted outside the boundaries of his office when he independently signed a 287(g) agreement with federal immigration authorities.
The ruling permanently bars Miller's office from moving forward with the deal, with the court siding with the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, which had taken legal action in February after learning Miller had quietly signed the agreement months prior without notifying the board.
"Brad Miller exceeded his authority in an attempt to push an extreme political agenda that the public neither approved nor authorized," Sen. Miranda said.
What is a 287 (g) Program?
The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to work alongside federal immigration authorities to identify and detain individuals living in the country without legal status.
Additonally, Miller had entered into the task force version of the agreement the previous August. According to the board of supervisors, they were not informed of the agreement for several months after it was signed.
The court treated the arrangement as a contract requiring formal county approval, which Miller did not obtain before signing.
Broader Concerns
Furthermore, Miranda also used the ruling to raise broader concerns about immigration enforcement policy, arguing that the agreement could have put residents with no criminal background at risk of being reported to federal authorities.
"Arizona's immigrant communities are not political targets. They are our neighbors, workers, parents, students, and small business owners who contribute to the strength and success of our state every single day," she emphasized. "They deserve dignity, due process, and the protection of their constitutional rights."
Miller said he was disappointed by the decision and indicated he was weighing an appeal.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors welcomed the outcome, releasing a statement noting that the ruling reaffirmed the board's authority under state law to approve local government contracts and oversee county spending.
“This ruling makes it clear that no elected official is above the law and that political agendas cannot override the limits of public office,” Miranda concluded.
