LAUREN GILGER: Arizona state Sen. Analise Ortiz is no stranger to political controversy. But, now she is facing death threats, calls for her ouster and more.
It all comes after she posted information on her social media platforms about ICE activity in her community near a school. She says it’s free speech. Her right-wing opponents say it’s putting federal agents in danger.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen asked the U.S. Attorney for Arizona for an investigation. Sen. Jake Hoffman, who heads up the Freedom Caucus, called for her to be removed from office. Fox News is reporting that she could be hit with obstruction of justice charges.
She sat down with me in our studios late last week to talk about it all and what she thinks it says about the state of our politics.
ANALISE ORTIZ: This all started with a reshare of a post on a community account that was letting people know there was suspected ICE activity outside of an elementary school in Laveen. That terrifies me, because I believe no child should be walking to school and have to fear that they will be taken or their parents will be taken. This is simply a community alert to make people aware of how the government is acting in our communities, in plain sight.
GILGER: So this got picked up by “Libs of TikTok,” I mean, and all of a sudden really blew up. Talk a little bit about the reaction here. I mean, you're no stranger to controversy in politics. You're very outspoken, often on issues like this, but you've got other senators calling for your ouster. We've got Fox News talking to DHS, saying that, you know, this might be obstruction of justice. What do you make of this backlash?
ORTIZ: This is absolutely a politically motivated attack and an escalation of the far right's willingness to use the courts and investigative agencies to target their political opponents. It is another step into authoritarianism.
GILGER: I wonder about the personal side of this a little bit. I mean, I know politicians are sort of used to attacks, but you're getting death threats. This is definitely — it feels more violent.
ORTIZ: This is absolutely escalated. And it's unfortunate that my colleagues, including the Senate president, have fanned the flames of this rhetoric and these calls of incitement of violence against me personally. I'm getting all kinds of emails, people claiming they know where I live, that they're going to cause me and my family harm. This is horrible. And there's no place for this type of political violence in a free and fair democracy.
GILGER: Have you seen this kind of thing before? I mean, I know I've spoken with other local politicians in the past and in the last just couple of years, in particular, who have seen things like this happen, who have been in that position. This is — it seems, becoming more common.
ORTIZ: It unfortunately is becoming more common. And I have taken extra precaution since the Democratic legislator, Melissa Hortman, was assassinated just a few short months ago. And what's ironic there is she was assassinated by someone impersonating law enforcement.
GILGER: This was in Minnesota, yeah.
ORTIZ: Yeah. And we're seeing people, you know, wearing masks, impersonating law enforcement in order to commit crimes. So, these types of public safety alerts, letting people know that there are masked men in the community outside a school is about keeping ourselves safe.
GILGER: So, what do you make of the criticism here, though, putting death threats aside, the claim here from the other side of this is that you are putting law enforcement in danger. We have DHS saying that they are seeing a rise in assaults against officers. That you're putting officers at risk. Do you think that's a possibility? Are you concerned about that?
ORTIZ: I do not condone violence. I never have. I believe Arizonans deserve to know what their government is doing in their communities. And sharing public, factual information of law enforcement activity is 100% protected by the First Amendment. It's no different than using the Waze app to let people know about a speed trap or the many posts we often see on Nextdoor of drug bust going on or a police helicopter circling a neighborhood.
GILGER: This is a First Amendment issue for you?
ORTIZ: Absolutely. It is completely within my right to share information that is publicly available, that anyone driving by near that elementary school could have seen with their own two eyes.
GILGER: I've seen a lot of posts like this of late, of people — whether they are politicians or not or activists or not — posting about ICE activity because we've seen so much of it. This is happening, I think, here and around the country. Is this new?
ORTIZ: It's not new. This has been something we've seen since the days of Joe Arpaio, communities making each other aware of what the government is doing. But I think what's important to remember is that the Trump administration's tactics are new. They are lurking outside of elementary schools, targeting parents as they're dropping kids off. They are under tremendous pressure to meet these quotas where they're making mistakes. They have detained United States citizens. They have detained lawful green-card holders. So, people are rightfully afraid right now. And, of course, the masks are new. We have men that have guns jumping out of unmarked vehicles, refusing to show badges and warrants. These are unprecedented times we are in.
GILGER: Talk a little bit about what you're hearing from your community. Your district is largely parts of Maryvale, Glendale, west Phoenix. Are you hearing about a lot of fear from the community that sounds like it did 10 years ago when Arpaio was in charge?
ORTIZ: Absolutely. And it's really unfortunate. There are people of all citizenship statuses, including United States citizens, who are afraid right now. They don't want to go drop their kids at school. They don't want to go to the grocery store or to seek health care because this administration is acting so ruthlessly and so far outside of the norm.
GILGER: Talk about your role as a Democratic lawmaker. A little bit of a political question here: Is there a broader approach that your caucus is taking to these, as you call them, unprecedented times — to this mass deportation campaign? Are you thinking about this in some sort of organized political way to try to make sure that your community and their interests are protected?
ORTIZ: Well, we are quickly seeing public sentiment shift, because so many people who may have supported Trump's call to deport violent people or people who have caused serious crimes — he's not sticking to that. He is going after parents — hard-working people — that are trying to make an honest living in the United States and do not have a clear pathway to citizenship because of the failures of Congress. So, we are rapidly seeing people reject the authoritarianism they are seeing from Trump and from ICE. As Democrats, we are committed to informing people of their rights and protecting the Constitution, especially the right to due process. Which is something that everyone should be entitled to.
GILGER: I want to ask you about public sentiment and how you think it's shifting, kind of, against these policies. And I've seen polling to that effect as well. But I wonder this because if we're talking about the days of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and SB 1070, we saw massive protests, people out in the streets by the thousands saying, “This is wrong. This is not what we want to have happen in our state and our country.” We're not seeing that today. Do you think there's a reason why?
ORTIZ: There's a lot of fear. We have seen the Trump administration crack down on free speech in a way that should chill anybody. And what happened with Mahmoud Khalil, the student who was a permanent lawful resident and was detained for over 100 days because of his political speech. They are trying to send a message to chill free speech and to keep people afraid. And that's why I find it so important to be speaking out right now, given my platform, even though I am facing death threats, even though I have had constant harassment. We can't be afraid and back down in this moment. And there are a lot of people who, rightfully, you know, don't want to get involved with these protests and things of that nature because they are scared. And that's how fascism takes over.
GILGER: So you are speaking out even though you know you're facing threats of potential prosecution. How far do you think this could go? Are you willing to keep speaking out, keep posting things like this even if you're going to be attacked and maybe prosecuted for it?
ORTIZ: I am confident that the First Amendment protects my right to share information about what law enforcement is doing in plain sight in our communities.
GILGER: So, you will continue to share this kind of information?
ORTIZ: I believe I am on the right side of history and my speech is protected — yes.
GILGER: All right. State Sen. Analise Ortiz joining us. Thank you very much, appreciate you coming in.
ORTIZ: Thank you.
