The violent protests seem to drag on and on in Minnesota. Swarms of protesters make it their daily mission to make it impossible for ICE agents to do their jobs and generally make their lives miserable. Elected officials don’t help and actually hinder ICE operations, and local police don’t seem to be anywhere around.
Now, ICE may be showing up in Arizona, and Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes appears to be making some pretty wild suggestions as to what residents can do if confronted by ICE agents, and by her own admission, it could be a situation that ends very poorly.
Arizona Police Association Statement on Attorney General Mayes’ Comments Regarding ICE Operations
Phoenix, AZ— Arizona Police Association Executive Director Joe Clure issued the following statement regarding Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ reckless comments regarding ICE… pic.twitter.com/leNrFWHLmT— Arizona Police Association (@AZPoliceAssc) January 23, 2026
Arizona Police Association Executive Director Joe Clure issued the following statement regarding Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ reckless comments regarding ICE operations and Arizona’s Stand Your Ground Laws:
READ MORE: Maine Democrats Just Placed a Giant Bullseye on the Backs of ICE Agents
Mayes sat down with Phoenix NBC affiliate reporter Brahm Resnik, where she was asked about an imminent surge of ICE agents in Arizona. Mayes said:
“I believe they are showing up. I think the ramp-up is starting here in Arizona. We can actually see it next door. The ICE building is literally right next door to this building. We are watching them bring in more agents. They just unloaded two truckloads of cars, both marked and undercover, next door, and we are watching them bring in more agents, so it’s clear to us that they are bringing in additional officers, agents, you know, whatever they’re calling them, because they’re very poorly trained, and based on what we are seeing go into the building across the street upwards of 30 to 50 new ICE officers.”
It was here that Mayes made her disdain for ICE agents very clear when she added, “I put that in air quotes (agents/officers) because I don’t think they are real law enforcement.”
It got much darker from there. Mayes went on to explain that, like several other states, Arizona is a Stand Your Ground state, meaning that if citizens believe they are in imminent danger and their life is being threatened, they can use deadly force. Incredibly, Mayes went on to describe the very troubling potential scenario that could emerge, saying:
“It’s kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks. And we have a Stand Your Ground law that says that if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger and you’re in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force.”
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Majority Leader John Kavanagh Calls on Attorney General Kris Mayes to Retract Dangerous Statements and Resign
Full press release: https://t.co/mRunhzry4I@JohnKavanagh_AZ pic.twitter.com/GTUgOYo2UL
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) January 23, 2026
The comment appears to stop Resnik dead in his tracks, and to his credit, he gave Mayes ample opportunity to explain herself.
“I want to be careful with that, and understand what you’re saying because you know how that could be interpreted.” Mayes doesn’t take the opportunity and simply replies with “Well, but it’s the fact.” She does go on to provide cover for herself with a tepid clarification: “You’re not allowed to shoot peace officers.”
ALSO READ: ICE Under Siege: Vehicular Attacks Up 3200 Percent
But here is what is happening. Kris Mayes is arguing that some ICE agents are masked and unidentifiable; therefore, how do you know they are peace officers or law enforcement? In that case, is she saying that it is okay for ICE agents to be shot? And if it truly is a “recipe for disaster” as she says, why even bring up the Stand Your Ground Law? Mayes seemingly knows exactly what she is doing. It’s all very veiled and implied and roundabout. But all that is missing from Mayes is a wink and a nod.
Kris Mayes is just another in a long line of Democrat politicians who are also giving veiled, if not open, encouragement of violence against ICE officers. The same crowd that lectures us that words matter will take no responsibility for theirs.
BREAKING: Democrat Arizona AG Kris Mayes is ENCOURAGING people to report and dox ICE agents and suggests that people can shoot ICE agents if they’re wearing masks because you don’t know if they’re agents or not pic.twitter.com/Z3q58HhXot
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 23, 2026
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
Help us hold these leftists accountable and expose their obstruction. Join RedState and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
