Pima County Attorney Laura Conover recommends posting, “in large type” and “in reception areas throughout the county” a statement addressing federal law enforcement officers.
The statement is a response to “any federal agents seeking access to County facilities or employees in a non-emergency situation.” It instructs people to request a warrant, as well as federal law enforcement agents’ names, agencies, and badge numbers.
While the statement begins, “I want to be as helpful and cooperative as I can with any lawful orders,” the recommendations could prevent or slow down enforcement operations, raids or arrests if federal agents do not have a proper warrant.
“My instructions require me to quickly get a copy of your warrant and any paperwork you have,” the recommended statement continues. “I will share this information with my point of contact at Main County who will quickly consult with attorneys in order to comply with your request as soon as possible.”
Pima County facilities include courts, administrative offices, libraries, the jail and other locations.
“We have been working closely with the county attorney’s office,” so that county officials can be “helpful and responsive,” Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher told Arizona Luminaria.
“But we have a lot of public facilities, libraries, parks, public locations, and we don’t screen for citizenship as people come in to use those facilities.”
Lesher said county officials want people to be able to use those facilities safely, but that they will also be responding to legal enforcement operations. She said it was something the county must balance.
Conover told Arizona Luminaria in an emailed statement: “Just as our community members are worried and fearful, so too are employers, teachers, librarians, medical personnel, and others throughout Pima County. The attorneys here are the legal advisors to every County agency, the electeds, the Board, the County Administrator.”
She added, “The needle being thread is how to respond correctly when handed a valid court order/warrant or how to identify what must be challenged in court.”
Isabel García is an immigrant rights attorney and a leader of Derechos Humanos, an immigrant rights advocacy organization. She said it’s crucial to understand the difference between a judicial and an administrative warrant.
According to the National Immigration Law Center, “Unlike a judicial warrant, an administrative warrant does not authorize a search.” Administrative warrants can be signed by ICE officials, whereas judicial warrants must be signed by judges.
New Trump administration guidelines have set quotas for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for arrests of undocumented residents, according to recent reporting. The quotas ask ICE agents to aim for at least 1,200 or 1,500 arrests per day, which is up from a previous average of a few hundred a day.
On Jan. 29, ICE posted on X that they had made 1,016 arrests on the previous day.
While there have not been reports of any large-scale ICE raids in Tucson, there have been arrests, and many immigrants are increasingly nervous.
ICE raids have been conducted in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere across the country since the change in administration. Some of the sweeps have allegedly targeted members of the Navajo Nation and U.S. citizens.
The memo from the attorney’s office was shared with Pima County judges, the board of supervisors and elected officials, and has not been made public. Arizona Luminaria obtained the recommended statement from a cover letter Lesher wrote to county officials, including judges, the board of supervisors and others.
“I think this moment represents a real breaking point in this country,” García said.
“I think the counties and cities and state responsibility is to their residents, the people who put them in power, who pay taxes, and who make their communities thrive.” She said that not actively assisting in ICE raids isn’t enough.
She said local officials must also “prevent federal agents from violating constitutional rights.”
For her part, Conover said, “We are committed to serving the County to the utmost of our abilities as we all weather the storm.”
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
