Following trespassing threats against advocates and reporters outside of the U.S. Immigration Court in Phoenix, ACLU of Arizona and Our Thriving Arizona ask for transparency.
PHOENIX — Today, the ACLU of Arizona and Our Thriving Arizona submitted a public records request asking the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) to provide communications with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and any other information regarding police presence outside of the U.S. Immigration Court in Phoenix. Separately, the ACLU of Arizona also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with ICE on the same matter. These requests come after advocates, community groups, and reporters were threatened with trespassing charges outside of the court building on Van Buren and 7th Avenue on May 28, 2025.
Starting in May, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began arresting immigrants at and near immigration courts in Phoenix, Tucson, and other cities across the country. These arrests occurred after DHS attorneys requested immigration judges to dismiss immigrants’ removal proceedings. Advocates began organizing outside of immigration courts to inform immigrants of their rights, to accompany them into the courtroom when possible, and to peacefully protest the arrests occurring immediately following case dismissals.
On May 28, PPD ordered protestors to leave the Phoenix Immigration Court, citing that it was located on private property.
“If Phoenix PD assists ICE in any way, the public should know how and why the two agencies are engaging with each other,” said John Mitchell, ACLU of Arizona immigrants’ rights attorney. “Arizonans deserve full transparency from law enforcement, especially with their constitutional rights at issue.”
“These case dismissals, arrests, and trespassing threats demonstrate a coordinated strategy to target people who are showing up to their hearings and complying with court orders,” said Victoria Lopez, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona. “Community members came together to mitigate the undeniable harm of fast-track deportations by making sure their immigrant neighbors knew their rights. We want to know when, why, and by whom Phoenix PD was called to push advocates out so that ICE could proceed with more shameful and aggressive arrests.”
“Our communities have the right to support one another without fear of intimidation or arrest,” said Shelley Jackson, member of the Our Thriving Arizona Coalition. “The rights to protest and assemble are fundamental, especially when fighting back against an administration that is violating our rights and kidnapping our friends, families, and neighbors. We deserve to know if Phoenix PD is using our taxpayer dollars to separate families.”
A copy of the Public Records Request submitted to Phoenix Police Department can be found here.
A copy of the FOIA request submitted to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement can be found here.
