Advocacy In Action

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Clarissa Vela speaks during a town hall on the impact of federal firings and DOGE funding freezes across the country at Central High School in Phoenix on March 5, 2025.

Michael Chow/The Republic

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"We are all going to suffer from the consequences of these actions. This will affect us all. So, as the proud granddaughter of a World War II veteran, and the proud daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I will say this, hold the line."

The community is on high alert for immigration related raids. About 100 people observed from the corner of 69th Avenue and North Lane, chanting and recording the operation.

Raphael Romero Ruiz/The Republic

“They're not sending them back to their countries of origin; they're sending them to other places, and they won't be able to leave those places.”

Protesters and media gather in a Peoria neighborhood on June 10, 2025, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a house near 69th Avenue and West North Lane. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

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"They were there doing what they were supposed to do at immigration court, and were arrested by ICE," said Sam Cooley 

“I’m out here because the Trump administration is doing anything they can to circumvent the law to deport immigrants without giving them their due process,” 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity around Valley schools has grown in the past few weeks, in some cases, taking place while parents or guardians are walking children to school, according to a watchdog group monitoring ICE movements.

Grupo defensor People First Project, comenta que recibieron una alerta en las inmediaciones de la primaria Southwest cerca de la Avenida 10 y Dobbins. Dice que agentes federales presuntamente estuvieron deteniendo a personas indocumentadas. Supuestamente, ICE habría detenido a por lo menos tres padres de familia

US Sen. Ruben Gallego met with voters in Globe and Apache Junction to discuss how the Trump administration is harming Arizonans.

“I cannot imagine the trauma that child experienced in that situation, how they sat through the rest of the day in their classroom,” Hobbs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos on Tuesday.

Founder of The People First Project also told ABC 15 there has been an uptick in ICE interactions near schools and is aware of around 40 cases in the last week.

The governor added that ICE detaining adults while they are walking their children to school doesn’t make anyone safer.

“In fact, it probably creates more danger,” Hobbs said. “Now kids are going to be walking to school alone or not going to school.”

Rep. Ansari, who serves as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 3rd congressional district and is the youngest female member of Congress, criticized ICE's tactics following reported operations around Roosevelt School District facilities.

"Can you imagine being a kid on your way to school, watching your parent get kidnapped by ICE? No child should carry that fear," Ansari stated.