Phoenix council declines citizen petition seeking limits on police–ICE interactions

The Phoenix City Council voted on June 13 to deny a citizen petition titled the “Resolution for Thriving Communities,” which would have limited some local police interactions that can lead to federal immigration holds. Vice Mayor O’Brien moved to deny the petition; the motion passed 8–1 after extended public testimony and council debate.

Supporters of the petition, including petitioner Estela Varela and more than two dozen community members, told the council they face fear and “racial profiling” in daily life and urged the city to adopt rules to minimize police interactions that can lead to deportation. “We don’t want to separate families anymore,” petitioner Estela Varela told the council during the public comment period.

Backers asked the council to require more police transparency and data collection, reduce pretextual traffic stops, limit referrals to federal immigration authorities and restrict city resources that could be used for deportations. Speakers described recent arrests in Phoenix that they said led to immigration consequences and urged the city to adopt clear site-and-release and noncooperation policies.

Council discussion focused on two related lines: whether Phoenix Police Department (PPD) practices already prevent cooperation with federal immigration roundups, and whether some petition provisions would conflict with state or federal law. Police and city officials repeatedly told the council that PPD does not participate in federal immigration roundups or “roundups” with ICE. The chief said the department does not “cooperate with ICE” in raids, and said officers generally use citations rather than arrests for civil traffic violations. City staff also noted that when people are booked into the county jail, county procedures—outside city control—may lead to immigration holds.

Councilmembers debated transparency and data: several members pressed for a clear monthly reporting package that would show numbers of stops, outcomes (cite-and-release, no charge, booking), transfers to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and any ICE detainers placed after booking. City staff said the department is implementing a new records management system later this year that will improve the consistency and availability of stop and arrest data; some data requests will also require cooperation from MCSO or other agencies.

Councilwoman Hernandez, who said she supported the petition, said the resolution reflected residents’ lived experience and pledged to continue working with advocates if the petition failed. “We have an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our constituents,” she said before voting to sustain the petition (she voted no on the motion to deny). Mayor Gallego and other members said they appreciated the public testimony but voted to deny the petition on grounds that parts of it duplicated existing policies, could conflict with state law, or needed further technical refinement.

The vote to deny the petition was 8 in favor of denial, 1 opposed (Councilwoman Hernandez). The council majority said it will nonetheless continue work on several overlapping measures: improved data collection and public reporting, audits at the precinct level, and enhanced community‑centered response options for nonviolent calls for service.

What’s next: Councilmembers asked staff to return with more specific, implementable items (data reporting formats, a timeline for the new records management system and specific language for any local policy changes) and to continue community engagement on changes to policing policy. The petition’s backers said they will press for passage of portions of the proposal in subsequent council actions.