Court records show Phoenix police phoned federal immigration agents after what officers described as a suspected drug sale, a move that ended with Immigration and Customs Enforcement taking a man into custody in early March.
The filings identify the man as Manuel Ramirez‑Soler and state he was deported in 2013 before returning to the United States. Federal prosecutors have now charged him with illegally reentering the country, and a judge has given him 30 days to respond to the complaint.
According to documents reviewed by 12News, a federal ICE officer received a call from Phoenix police on March 8 about an alleged illegal drug sale. ICE officers took Ramirez‑Soler into custody that same day and transported him to the Phoenix ICE office.
The complaint states Ramirez‑Soler was fingerprinted during the process and notes that court records contain no indication he faces drug charges tied to that stop. Those documents form the basis of the federal illegal reentry case against him.
Federal Charge And Possible Prison Time
Ramirez‑Soler faces a charge under the federal illegal reentry statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1326. For a basic violation, the law generally carries a statutory maximum of two years in prison, with higher penalty tiers available in certain circumstances. The statute and its penalty structure are outlined by the Legal Information Institute.
Police Message Vs. Advocates’ Concerns
Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano told 12News that his officers will not ask people about their immigration status and that the department wants victims to feel safe coming forward to report crimes.
Immigrant rights organizations have been pressing for more clarity on how and when Phoenix officers interact with federal immigration authorities. The ACLU of Arizona has filed public records requests seeking communications between Phoenix police and the Department of Homeland Security.
Local Enforcement On The Rise
The Ramirez‑Soler complaint lands at a time of increased federal immigration enforcement in the Phoenix area. Community groups have documented dozens of ICE sightings around the Valley, and immigration related prosecutions have stacked up in federal court.
Phoenix New Times has been tracking reported ICE activity, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona recently announced it brought immigration related charges against 156 individuals during the week of Feb. 21–27, 2026, underscoring the volume of recent enforcement.
Ramirez‑Soler is presumed innocent and will have an opportunity to respond through the federal complaint process. His case spotlights the friction that can flare when routine local police work intersects with federal immigration enforcement, and it helps explain why advocates keep pushing for clearer rules and more disclosure about who calls whom and when.
