The Tucson Police Department says it’s monitoring federal immigration enforcement but is not taking part in local activity.
In a statement, Police Chief Chad Kasmar says the department is aware of and monitoring federal immigration enforcement activity taking place in cities in Arizona and in California.
Kasmar says that activity is also taking place in Tucson — but his department is not taking part. He says police officers will offer public safety support during demonstrations and will intervene if criminal behavior ensues.
Videos on social media show Tucson police in riot gear amid a confrontation earlier this week between demonstrators and security personnel outside an ICE facility in Tucson’s southside. Some protesters are seen throwing items at the facility’s window and spray painting the wall.
“The demonstration, related to national concerns surrounding immigration enforcement, began peacefully,” Tucson police said in a statement Thursday. “However, as the event progressed, several individuals engaged in criminal behavior, including vandalism of nearby businesses and the assault of private security personnel.”
The department says officers intervened to restore order and protect public safety. They arrested three people on charges including unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, blocking a public thoroughfare and resisting arrest.
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The ruling comes a day after news broke of the government’s plan to offer legal aid to detained immigrant children through a $150 million contract Burke Law Group — a small Texas-based firm with a co-founder who is a former Trump appointee. -
A notice posted on the Federal Register this week details a $150 million government contract with Burke Law Group to represent unaccompanied immigrant children. A multimillion-dollar contact with nonprofits across the country to do the work expired Friday. -
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is supposed to help people during disasters like floods and fires. But a new report finds the Trump administration diverted FEMA staff at key times to do something very different — help ICE in immigration enforcement. -
The DACA program turned 14 this year. The Obama-era initiative is supposed to give some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a work permit and temporary protection from deportation. But community members say that’s no longer the case under President Donald Trump. -
Some 20,000 children alone in the US receive legal aid through the contract — part of a federal program established by Congress almost two decades ago. The contract to do that work expires July 31.
