GOP threatens 2026 ballot measure after Hobbs vetoes Arizona ICE Act
Despite multiple cases of U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained, Republican lawmakers in Arizona want to force law enforcement agencies, city officials and even school leaders to make it easier for ICE to deport people — and they’re threatening to go to the ballot to do it.
Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a GOP priority bill, known as the Arizona ICE Act, that sought to force state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. On Monday, Republican backers of the bill lashed out at the Democratic governor’s rejection of that idea, and warned that the legislation might return in 2026.
Senate President Warren Petersen, who sponsored the bill, lambasted Hobbs for playing “political games” and said the bill’s backers are considering going to voters next year to circumvent her veto stamp.
Senate Bill 1164 would have mandated that every police department and sheriff’s office in the state comply with ICE detainers. Also known as immigration holds, detainers are written requests from ICE to law enforcement agencies to hold a person in custody for an extra 48 hours after their scheduled release time — even if that person hasn’t been convicted of any crime — to determine whether they’re eligible for deportation.
https://azmirror.com/2025/04/22/gop-threatens-2026-ballot-measure-after-hobbs-vetoes-arizona-ice-act/