GOVERNMENT
NATIONWIDE BORDER ENCOUNTERS
had such an agreement since 2008, and newly elected Sheriff Ross Teeple sees no changes. “If they’re concerned in Pinal County, the best way to not end up in one of my jails is to not commit a crime,” said Teeple. “Crossing the border not through a point of entry is a crime in just about every country I’ve ever visited.” Subversive education Those “targeted arrests” are why groups like Phoenix-based Puente AZ are holding what is called migra watch — or migration watch — to train residents including some Maricopans on where and when ICE raids are happening and what to do when confronted. Lawyers train community members in what to say — and not say — to immigration officers. The goal, said Puente AZ Director Natalie Cruz, is to document any harassment or racial profiling of those here legally or pursuing legal status. Maricopa is one of the group’s areas of interest. “We wanted our community members to be on alert, to be able to help,” Cruz told InMaricopa . “I, myself, am undocumented. I do have DACA
“Trump is going to need all of our support to make sure that he can see this policy through in removing tens of millions of criminal illegal aliens,” said Crowley. ‘They do not conduct raids,’ says new sheriff Ross Teeple was at that Trump campaign event. The Republican from Cactus Forest was mere weeks away from winning his bid for Pinal County Sheriff. While settling into the new role, Teeple went to the National Sheriff’s Association Conference in Washington, D.C. He listened to the border czar Homan talk about immigration enforcement. “What they repeated over and over again is that they do not conduct raids,” Teeple told InMaricopa . “A raid or a sweep is going into an area and then just basically asking everybody for their papers and that is not what ICE is doing. “ICE is going in and making targeted arrests of criminal or illegal aliens.” One of the Trump Administration’s first orders was to expand 287(g) agreements with
Crossing the border not through a point of entry is a crime in just about every country I’ve ever visited.” ROSS TEEPLE, PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF
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They’re enjoying the pain of the families. “We want to show the other side. We want to show what families are actually suffering and what they’re going through.” The American Dream isn’t for everyone No one can say for sure how these immigration actions will play out in Maricopa. While there have not been any large-scale raids in the area, it’s undoubtedly having a chilling effect on the community, based on more than a dozen interviews with Latino Maricopans since Trump’s swearing in.
ICE agents in January set up a checkpoint on John Wayne Parkway in the Hidden Valley community between Maricopa and Stanfield, according to three people who navigated the checkpoint. Even for legally documented citizens like Spalacios, it’s “kind of scary, because of the kind of treatment we receive.” “Citizens that look like me will get comments at the grocery store. You get that kind of racism,” said Spalacios. “That’s very uncomfortable and discouraging, because a lot of people just want to come here and chase their dreams.”
(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and I know that can be taken away at any time. There is fear in the immigrant community, but it’s also very tiring. It’s very tiring that we continue to be in this fight, that our community continues to be attacked.” Cruz and her team set up Ves Algo, Di Algo (See Something, Say Something), a text chain meant to warn migrants of ICE activity around the state of Arizona, including Maricopa. InMaricopa was invited to join the text chain. “This administration is pushing folks to back into the shadows, pushing folks to be in fear,” she said. “It feels like they’re enjoying this.
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3 M
2.75
0
2017-2020
2021-2024
Homes sold
Source: Department of Homeland Security
state and local law enforcement agencies, giving local law enforcement the ability to enforce federal immigration law. Pinal County has Table 1 2023 2024 Homes sold 3 10.8
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InMaricopa.com | March 2025
March 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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