Tuesday’s Phoenix City Council study session to work on plans in case of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement was hijacked by pro-immigrant protesters.
Phoenix leaders also voted to draft an ordinance for how to respond if authorities target the city for a crackdown like in Minneapolis.
City staff have 45 days to come up with a framework for investigating allegations of crimes by federal immigration authorities. They also need a plan to collect data on how city services are affected by a dragnet, and training for city employees on how to handle warrants.
Mayor Kate Gallego cited an incident during the recent raids of Zipps Sports Grills.
“At 32nd Street and Shea (Boulevard), ICE agents pepper sprayed protesters with no cause whatsoever. That appears to be assault,” Gallego said.
Tuesday’s meeting abruptly ended after about 30 minutes.
Council members were starting to discuss the ordinance being called a transparency initiative when pro-immigrant protesters interrupted.
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ICE has released a 79-year-old Cuban woman from the Eloy Detention Center, after she spent nine months there. Julia Benitez suffers from dementia and was known inside the detention center as "la abuela," or the grandmother. -
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says agents arrested more than 20 people in a raid in Phoenix this week near 15th and Peoria avenues. -
President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and said he will nominate in her place Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin. -
Emmanuel Damas, 56, complained of a toothache on Feb. 13, his brother said, and almost a week later, he could no longer speak. ICE has not yet acknowledged the death. -
This measure would advance a resolution approved by supervisors last month that bars the use of masks for law enforcement, including ICE, if officers are not otherwise identifiable.
