Republican lawmakers hosting a pro-ICE press conference were driven indoors as they were met with protesters at the state Capitol on Monday morning.
The GOP legislators are pushing a bill to make it a felony to interfere with ICE activities by threatening or intimidating agents.
The effort comes in the wake of clashes between ICE and protesters in multiple U.S. cities, which escalated after an agent shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Good last week.
There have also been recent reports that ICE intends to increase its presence in the Valley.
Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller said incidents between ICE and members of the public have increased in Arizona. In those cases, he said, protesters attempting to impede ICE are putting the public at risk.
“What this bill does is clarify that to say that if a person does interfere in a lawful police operation, then they can be arrested, they can be taken off the street, and then the criminal justice system can kick in,” he said.
Miller said he supports peaceful protesters, but said those who get in the way of law enforcement operations need to be held accountable.
Overall, Miller said the public doesn’t understand what ICE is really doing.
“People think that ICE is just going to every random Home Depot and arresting people, that is 100% not correct. What they’re doing is they’re doing targeted operations to go after some of the worst of the worst, and that’s what we’re seeing,” he said.
Miller claimed that ICE agents go through the exact same schooling and training as all other law enforcement officials, including FBI agents.
Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) said they’ll send the bill to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, but if she vetoes it and there’s enough support from the public, lawmakers might put the legislation to voters as a ballot measure.
“The bottom line is, the Trump administration is doing the right thing. They’re trying to keep Americans safe. This shouldn’t be surprising to anybody. These are the campaign promises that President Trump made,” Petersen said of ICE activities.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Gillette (R-Lake Havasu City), did not answer questions about the legislation.
In response to a request for comment, he said “fake news!” and rapidly left the press conference.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The photos have been updated to correct which county Brad Miller represents.
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