The proposed Arizona Immigration, Cooperation and Enforcement Act (Arizona ICE Act) would significantly update current statutes by mandating state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It would preempt any state official, agency, or political subdivision from prohibiting or restricting such cooperation and subject any violating city, town, or county to investigation and enforcement by the Attorney General (AG). The definition of a law enforcement agency (LEA) would be expanded to include the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and municipal police departments, and the requirements for temporary housing would be specified for the director of each correctional facility under the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) or a county sheriff's office. Additionally, the bill removes an appropriation from the state General Fund for FY 2026 intended for county sheriff's offices and ADCRR to administer the Arizona ICE Act and eliminates the mandate for each LEA to use its best efforts to support federal immigration law enforcement. It also outlines the requirements and procedures for the AG's investigation of alleged violations of the preemption and includes technical and conforming changes to ensure consistency within the law. The act emphasizes the importance of cooperation between state and federal authorities in immigration enforcement and asserts that the matters addressed in the bill are of statewide concern, applying retroactively from December 31, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-1052, 11-1053, 11-1054, 11-1055
Senate Engrossed Version: 11-1052, 11-1053, 11-1054, 11-1055