Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (D-AZ) and the City Council voted 8-1 on Tuesday to create new policies aimed at protecting residents during federal immigration enforcement operations.
The decision comes after Mayor Gallego said she heard from many Phoenix residents who are worried about civil rights violations they've seen in other cities, such as Minneapolis.
"I've heard from many residents who have witnessed the sweeping civil rights violations in Minneapolis and are worried - with good reason - about how federal immigration enforcement actions can violate civil rights, disrupt families, and interfere with daily lives here in Phoenix,” she explained.
The City Council directed staff to develop a plan that includes four main parts:
- Officials will look at restricting outside organizations from using city parks and other public property as staging areas for operations.
- The city will document and preserve information about federal immigration activities in Phoenix that may violate the law or people's civil rights. This information could be used to potentially prosecute federal agents who act illegally.
- Phoenix will collect data showing how federal immigration enforcement affects city services.
- The city will train employees on what to do if they encounter federal enforcement actions, including how to handle different types of warrants.
Phoenix is also creating "Know Your Rights" materials to help residents understand their legal protections. The city plans to hire outside counsel if it needs to sue the federal government.
“We share those valid concerns, and we’re taking meaningful steps to protect our community," Gallego concluded.
The meeting was cut short when protestors from the organization "Poder in Action" interrupted the session demanding proactive steps to prevent harm to immigrants. ABC15 reported that after about half an hour of disruption, Gallego walked out of the meeting.
City staff will bring back a detailed plan to the Council, including how they'll communicate with the public and the cost of the initiative. As tensions rise, questions remain about whether community protests will intensify and where federal immigration authority is headed.
