Arizona Legislative Democrats walk out in protest during Border Czar’s speech

PHOENIX – Today, The Arizona Legislature hosted a special joint session to hear White House Border Policy Advisor Tom Homan discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the southern border. While the “Border Czar” spoke, the Democratic Caucus walked out while holding up signs with the names of individuals he has deported, detained or disappeared. Once outside, the Democratic Caucus was joined by community activists to stand up against his racist rhetoric and efforts to turn Arizona into an anti-immigrant state:

Senator Miranda (LD11), ranking Democrat on the Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee, stated, “It’s disturbing that my colleagues are giving a platform to someone who has caused so much harm to our community. Tom Homan isn’t just deporting people, he’s responsible for kidnappings, disappearances, and the deportation of individuals for reasons as unjust as having tattoos, protesting, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And while those outside the immigrant community might not think this impacts them, let’s not forget Pastor Marin Niemoller’s poem First They Came.  Right now, they might only be going after the right to due process for immigrants, but soon they will be coming for you or your loved one’s due rights process as well. The actions this administration is taking are not only illegal – they are inhumane. They do not believe that immigrants and people of color are human beings worthy of respect, and that is a message I cannot cosign, which is why I walked out today.” 

Senator Analise Ortiz (LD24), ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Elections Committee, added, “Tom Homan is not welcome in Arizona. The immigrants who have called Arizona home, the families that help the economy, who help take care of their community. They are welcome here. For way too long, Arizona has long been ground zero for harmful policies against immigrant communities with SB1070 and Sheriff Joe Arpaio paving the way for today’s mass deportations. Since Trump has taken office, we have seen hundreds of thousands of individuals deported, people being detained for peaceful protests or having tattoos, and racist rhetoric spewed from both federal and local republicans.  ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan is behind all of that. I walked out in protest of this administration’s actions because they are illegal, immoral, and this is not what America should stand for. It is our job as lawmakers to ensure that people looking for a better life are still able to come and achieve the American dream, they way many of our parents and grandparents did. America was built by immigrants, and it's time for Congress to act accordingly by passing a permanent pathway to citizenship. Until that happens, I will continue fighting for my community.” 

Representative Betty Villegas (LD20) said, “What’s happening today on the House floor is a farce, plain and simple, and the people of Arizona deserve better. Under Homan’s leadership, ICE is not only cruel, itis incompetent -- even by Trump-era standards. His agency deports people who are lawfully present in this country. It separates families. It’s targeting people who have built lives here, who contribute, who pay taxes, who raise children and who care for their ageing parents. If the Trump administration truly wanted a conversation on the border, they would take a cue from Governor Hobbs’ SAFE Initiative, which has already taken over six million fentanyl pills off our streets. That’s what leadership looks like.” 

Representative Anna Abeytia (LD24) added, “I walked out today in protest because I refuse to be propagandized to about what the real issue is. Let’s be clear, this issue is not about border militarization. The issue is a broken immigration system and bad foreign policy. These are the real roots of the crisis. As a duly elected representative and as a proud Latina, I have the obligation to speak out in this moment, and I have an obligation to stand up for my community and to stand up for what is right. It is my community of Maryvale, one of the hardest hit communities during Senate Bill 1070 and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, that is now facing another wave of attacks.” 

###