Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has stated that citizens might be justified in employing lethal force against masked ICE agents if they perceive a threat to their safety.
Arizona’s Democratic attorney general asserted that state residents might be justified in using firearms against US immigration agents, citing the state’s self-defense statutes, a statement that intensifies the discourse amidst ongoing nationwide enforcement actions.
During an interview with 12 News on Wednesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes remarked that her state’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ legislation presents a “recipe for disaster,” given that masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are, in her view, “very poorly trained” and often possess “very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks.”
She clarified that the statute permits individuals to employ lethal force in self-defense if they “reasonably believe” their life is at risk. Interviewer Brahm Resnik persistently questioned her, suggesting the remarks might be interpreted as sanctioning the shooting of an officer, to which Mayes responded that she was simply articulating an existing fact.
Federal authorities have denounced Mayes’ declaration. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, characterized it as a “direct threat calling for violence against our law enforcement officers” that “is going to get someone killed.”
Her remarks coincide with widespread protests and violent confrontations between demonstrators and ICE agents, occurring as federal law enforcement bodies have initiated a nationwide enforcement campaign targeting undocumented immigrants.
Tensions heightened in Minnesota earlier this month following an incident where an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot Renee Good, 37, who reportedly attempted to strike federal agents with her SUV.
While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agents, asserting that Good was attempting to use her vehicle to kill an officer in an act of “domestic terrorism,” Democratic leaders have deemed the woman’s death unwarranted. The shooting ignited protests, prompting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to instruct ICE to “get the f**k out” of the city.
The Pentagon has subsequently positioned 1,500 active-duty military personnel on standby for potential deployment to the state. The Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Frey, alleging they conspired to obstruct federal agents.
US President Donald Trump has also warned he would invoke the Insurrection Act should “corrupt politicians” fail to prevent “professional agitators and insurrectionists” from assaulting ICE agents.