PHOENIX — A Republican lawmaker wants to force Gov. Katie Hobbs to cooperate with any federal order issued by Donald Trump to begin mass deportations after he becomes president.
The legislator, Casa Grande Rep. Teresa Martinez, wants the same mandate on Attorney General Kris Mayes, Hobbs’ fellow Democrat.
But to make that the law in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Martinez would need to get Hobbs’ signature on her House Bill 2099.
A press aide to Hobbs, who has said she’s willing to work with Trump on at least some immigration issues, declined to say what the governor will do with the bill if and when it reaches her desk.
Mayes, however, said through her own spokesman that a blanket requirement to go along with whatever Trump wants — as Martinez’s bill calls for — is unacceptable.
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“We’re going to wait and see what the new administration’s plans are and then respond to them,’’ said Mayes’ spokesman Richie Taylor. “But if they are at odds with the U.S. Constitution and the rights and guarantees that it allows for, then we’re going to have an issue with that.’’
Mayes already has said she will fight Trump if he enacts measures she believes interfere with individual rights.
Martinez said Trump’s electoral victory, including in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, is a mandate for him to carry out the policies he announced during his campaign, including launching “the largest deportation operation in American history.’’
Of note is that her HB 2099 goes far beyond simply requiring compliance with federal law.
The bill would mandate that Hobbs and Mayes “enforce, administer and cooperate with federal actions, orders and programs that relate to the enforcement of federal immigration laws.’’ Given Trump’s statements about the actions he intends to take unilaterally, that could be much broader than anything Congress approves.
“I say illegal immigrants do not have a right to be in the United States,’’ Martinez said. “Illegal immigrants do not have a fundamental right to be in the state of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. They don’t. I’m sorry. I do not believe that.’’
Nor does Martinez think her legislation runs afoul of the Republican philosophy of “states’ rights’’ sometimes superseding federal law. In this case, she said, her proposal would have the state voluntarily agree to do what Trump mandates.
The legislation comes as Hobbs and Mayes, in the wake of Trump’s 187,382-vote victory in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Democrats’ losses of seats in the Republican-controlled Legislature, are trying to chart a moderate path on what they think should happen to the estimated 250,000 undocumented immigrants living in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Martinez claims that Hobbs, in an interview, said “not on my watch’’ when asked about cooperating with federal mass deportation efforts.
Other than some second-hand references on the social media platform X, there is no evidence Hobbs actually used those words, at least not about what Trump has in mind.
But Hobbs has clearly said there are limits on her willingness to work with the incoming president. In an interview with Capitol Media Services last week, she said “we’re not going to use state resources to participate in misguided efforts that harm our communities.’’
Still, the governor, in the same interview, sidestepped questions of what she would do if Trump issues orders to have state police and the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard round up those not here legally.
“I’m not going to ‘what if’ because there’s no clear details on what exactly he’s going to do or how he’s going to carry that out,’’ Hobbs said.
Martinez said the issue isn’t that complex. “What we need to do is we need to obey federal law,’’ she said. “And that is what the bill says.’’
She said her proposal to direct Hobbs, Mayes and future elected officials is narrowly written.
For example, federal law makes the possession of marijuana a crime. But ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ voters have decided — twice — that adults should be allowed to possess and use it.
“I didn’t say all federal laws,’’ Martinez said.
“This bill doesn’t affect marijuana use,’’ she said of the requirement to cooperate and enforce federal laws. “This bill simply says ‘immigration.’ ‘’
Martinez said a mandate on the governor and the attorney general is necessary.
“You have a group of Democratic governors who have sworn some sort of blood oath to fight President Trump in every way, shape or form,’’ she said. “Gov. Hobbs is one of those people. It is up to the Republican Legislature to defend and to help Donald Trump as much as we can.’’
Martinez said if Hobbs had made no statement about cooperating, or not, with a Trump deportation plan, “I would not feel the need to compel the governor or the AG of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to help President Trump when it comes to immigration actions and orders.’’
Trump himself has referred to a 1954 order by then-President Dwight Eisenhower that rounded up perhaps a million Mexican immigrants — the numbers vary — as well as some people who actually were U.S. citizens.
Martinez brushed aside questions of whether a presidential directive by itself, one that might even deny court hearings to those rounded up, would be something her legislation would require Hobbs and Mayes to follow.
“You’re talking about stuff that may never happen,’’ she said. “You’re giving me a hypothetical question that President Trump may or may not do.’’
She said this isn’t meant to be “gotcha’’ legislation, referring to bills being crafted by Republicans to send to the governor for an anticipated veto so they can use it against her when she campaigns for reelection in 2026.
“I hope she does sign it,’’ Martinez said. “I want her to sign it.’’
She noted Hobbs mentioned in her State of the State speech Monday the importance of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ having a role in stopping the flow of illegal drugs across the border.
“If she does not sign it, it is because she believes that illegal immigrants, illegal aliens, have a fundamental right to be in the United States,’’ Martinez said.
Nor is Martinez concerned about family separations.
She acknowledged there are people who are not here legally but who have had a child in this country who, under a constitutional amendment, is a U.S. citizen. But Martinez said that should not be an excuse to let the parents remain.
“If you are a 2-year-old child and both your parents are illegal, then the three of you should go back to your home country,’’ she said.
But Martinez said there should be a path to permanent legal residency status for “dreamers’’ who were brought here illegally as young children but have spent at least three-fourth of their lives here. She said, however, if their parents want to apply for residency, they would first have to go home to their own country.
Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on X, and Threads at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com.