Arizona Gov. Hobbs Warns Against Border Czar’s Threat to ‘Flood’ Cities with ICE Agents

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has voiced serious concerns about federal border czar Tom Homan’s recent declaration that he plans to "flood" certain cities with immigration agents. Speaking at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Homan targeted what he calls “sanctuary cities” that refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in rounding up undocumented immigrants.

Homan’s threat is not just rhetoric. He explicitly warned residents they would see more federal agents in their neighborhoods as a consequence of local resistance to ICE enforcement. While Hobbs disputes the existence of true sanctuary cities in Arizona—defining them as places actively obstructing federal immigration law—she acknowledges that Homan’s broad definition could include communities simply declining to assist ICE in non-criminal immigration roundups.

This aggressive posture alarms Hobbs, who fears a repeat of dangerous enforcement practices that have previously led to tragic outcomes. “What I hope this doesn't signal is a return to the kind of enforcement practices that ended up getting two people in Minnesota killed because they were more focused on indiscriminately rounding people up and not on keeping us safe,” Hobbs told Capitol Media Services. She warned that such tactics undermine both community safety and effective law enforcement.

Compounding the tension, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently issued a legal opinion affirming that local governments have the authority to adopt policies limiting cooperation with ICE, especially in civil immigration matters. Mayes emphasized that while state and federal laws prohibit active interference with immigration enforcement, they do not compel local jurisdictions to assist ICE operations. She also affirmed that cities and counties can restrict ICE’s use of public property for enforcement activities.

Mayes grounded her stance in constitutional law, citing the Tenth Amendment’s protection against federal overreach into state and local governance. She dismissed Homan’s threats as intimidation tactics, stating, “Arizona isn't going to be intimidated by threats from Homan. Pima County and the city of Phoenix have enacted lawful measures that reflect the views of their communities.”

Governor Hobbs stopped short of declaring when federal pressure crosses the legal line but expressed hope that courts will ultimately decide the boundaries of federal and local cooperation on immigration enforcement.

This clash highlights the ongoing battle over immigration enforcement tactics and the limits of federal authority, with Arizona caught in the crossfire. As border czar Homan doubles down on aggressive deployments, local leaders are pushing back to protect community safety and uphold legal limits on federal power. The stakes are high: reckless ICE operations have already cost lives in other states, and Arizona officials are determined not to repeat those mistakes.