Arizona's top legal figure, Attorney General Kris Mayes, has aligned with a cadre of his counterparts across the nation to send a message to Congress: It's time to set boundaries on how ICE agents operate in the field. This coalition of 21 attorneys general is pressing for legislation to keep federal immigration agents from masking their identities and ensure they visibly display their identification and agency insignia.
In a critical letter addressed to lawmakers, which was shared via the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the attorneys general voiced apprehension about a string of events where ICE officers, shrouded in plainclothes and using unmarked vehicles, have detained individuals. The group indicated such actions—ICE officers operating incognito in the public eye—stray far from the well-lit paths of transparency trod by regular law enforcement. "Secret police tactics like this erode trust in law enforcement and allows criminals to dangerously impersonate officers – which is already happening," said Mayes in an excerpt from the letter.
Among the states backing Mayes are legal leaders from California, Colorado, and a bevy of others, including but not limited to Connecticut, Delaware, and New York. They're collectively looking to turn the page on a chapter of enforcement cloaked in ambiguity, aiming for a future where the relationship between law enforcement and community can rebuild and restore. The full text of their plea to Congress can be found on the Arizona Attorney General's official website.
