In a decisive move, the Pima County Board of Supervisors has initiated measures to curb the operational scope of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the county limits. The board’s decision reflects ongoing community concerns about the transparency and accountability of federal law enforcement activities.
Supervisor Jenn Allen, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasized the positive relationship with local law enforcement, highlighting their commitment to key values such as trust and integrity. “Trust, transparency, accountability and integrity are things they strive for every single day,” she asserted. “This item is getting at behaviors that are far outside of that.”
Allen underscored the importance of identification for ICE agents to ensure accountability, particularly in cases of power abuse or excessive force. The board voted 4-1 to proceed with drafting a mask policy for ICE agents, ban the use of county property by ICE, and oppose a proposed ICE detention facility in Marana, a town north of Tucson.
Rolande Baker, a volunteer with Pima Resist ICE, voiced her support for the board’s actions. She recounted, “I don’t think it should be difficult. Prior to Donald Trump’s second term, they always were unmasked, ICE was always unmasked. Border Patrol was always unmasked. Border Patrol and ICE always had their IDs on them, we knew who they were,” she said. “The fact that we’re even having to write an ordinance, that we’re even having to write something to say that they have to do that, is outrageous to me, because it’s what it always was, prior to January 2021.”
The lone dissent came from Supervisor Steve Christy, who expressed concerns that the new ordinances could lead to doxing of federal agents. He proposed an alternative that would mandate ID display while protecting agents’ personal information from public exposure. His proposal, however, did not gain traction. Supervisor Rex Scott acknowledged the risk to agents’ families but did not support Christy’s motion.
Christy also opposed the prohibition on ICE using county property, citing potential conflicts between local law enforcement and ICE. In response, Supervisor Matt Heinz reassured that local officers are adept at de-escalation techniques.
The supervisors directed county officials to prepare the ordinances for a vote at their upcoming meeting later this month, with a final decision expected in March. This action aligns with a recent vote by Tucson’s mayor and city council to draft a similar ordinance banning ICE from utilizing city-owned properties.
