Gordon Says Phoenix Not Sanctuary City

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon denies that Arizona's capital is a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.

Gordon, speaking on the "Jay Lawrence Show" on FM News/Talk 92-3, said a sanctuary city does not cooperate with federal officials on immigration issues. He said Phoenix does.

"Phoenix police arrested over 3,500 illegal immigrants last year alone and turned over 2,000 individuals who were illegal over to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). That's not a sanctuary city," Gordon said.

Gordon said Phoenix cannot make enforcement of immigration laws its top priority.

"If we start down that road, our chief, and I concur with him, believes that that's all our officers will be doing, they'll be tied up doing this," Gordon said.

He reiterated that the top priority of our local police department is to make this community safer by going after criminals, both legal and illegal.