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Council approves UASI homeland-security grant application amid community concern about surveillance and targeting
Summary
Council authorized applying for and accepting Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding, including projects for threat liaison officers, CERT and vehicle-ramming protections; some council members and public speakers raised concerns about potential targeting of Black and Brown advocacy groups and federal misuse of funds.
The Phoenix City Council voted to authorize the city to apply for and accept Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding on Sept. 17, 2025, a grant program that supports regional preparedness and homeland-security capabilities. The vote passed 8-1.
Council discussion centered on the scope of funded programs and civil liberties concerns. Public speakers and Councilwoman Hernandez asked whether threat/terrorism liaison activities had historically over-targeted Black-led advocacy groups and whether federal funding could be used to suppress protected speech. A community witness cited an internal police record…
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