Tucson officials respond to ramped-up immigration enforcement nationwide

In the wake of ramped-up deportation plans and other immigration crackdowns nationwide, officials in Tucson say the city’s role has not changed.

In a statement Tuesday, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and other city leaders said immigration enforcement actions are occurring at the federal level under the new Trump administration, rather than by the Tucson Police Department and other local law enforcement.

"The Tucson Police Department, at the direction of Chief Kasmar, City Manager Thomure, and the Mayor and Council, is committed to protecting and serving all of the residents in our community; and all of TPD’s law enforcement activities are carried out in a manner that recognizes and protects the civil rights, privileges, and immunities of all persons in Tucson," the statement read.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has also said he doesn’t oppose what the federal government was doing, but his deputies are already busy enforcing local laws.

“It’s pretty simple — they have a job to do, and I have a job to do. Both are very important jobs, but I don’t ask them to do my job, and they don’t ask me to do their job,” he said. “What I’m opposed to is trying to mandate that my sheriff’s department be involved in such issues.”

Tucson officials say the city’s Police Department’s general orders were revised after Arizona’s SB1070 — which gave immigration-related arrest authority to local police before it was mostly ruled illegal in the Supreme Court.

Under those orders, officers cannot make immigration status inquiries in many cases, including when talking to victims, witnesses or minors who aren’t with a parent or legal guardian. They also can’t stop a car specifically to ask about immigration status, transport a person or take any other enforcement action for a civil violation of federal law, like being undocumented.

Officials in South Tucson, a square mile-long city inside Tucson, have said the city won’t take part in mass deportations.