ICE enforcement set to surge in metro Phoenix, bringing new arrests, deportations and detainments

PHOENIX — Immigration enforcement is expected to ramp up in the metro Phoenix area, according to new reports.

Last week, The Bulwark reported that the Valley will likely become the next hotspot of activity involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from arrests and deportations to expanding the nation’s network of detention facilities.

However, there is no clear timeline.

Arizona Democrats react to news of increased ICE activity in metro Phoenix

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat who represents Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, said he’s in touch with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego as well as federal and local partners.

“ICE should not be engaging in political revenge or mass deportations that spread fear,” Stanton said on social media. “We will not tolerate tactics that terrorize Phoenix families because that is not who we are as Arizonans or Americans. It makes our community less safe.”

U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, said she was pepper-sprayed during an ICE protest in December.

“It is going to potentially be a very, very dark time for immigrants in Phoenix,” Arizona U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat, said on social media. “Arizona is not new to this. We have a dark history with SB 1070. We have been through this.”

My thoughts on recent reporting on potential ICE ramp up in Phoenix. It’s important folks know what’s happening, why, and to proactively prepare. If you’re a resident of AZ-03, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we have a bilingual team here to help: https://t.co/aI5lm9n7PZ pic.twitter.com/m4vP8aO94p

— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) January 5, 2026

Why will there be a rise in immigration enforcement across the Valley?

Ansari said the spike in activity is related to last year’s passage of “The Big Beautiful Bill,” which allocated $170 billion in additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security to ramp up immigration enforcement activity.

“It also included $40 billion for ICE in particular, which includes the quadrupling of detention center capacity, so places like the Eloy Detention Center that is inhumanely detaining 1,500 or so people right now,” Ansari said.

She said ICE, which is looking to transform Valley buildings into detention centers, is out of control.

“We’ve seen reporting about potential warehouses in Glendale being turned into places to more efficiently move people — human beings — around,” Ansari said. “Community is extremely important right now. When we’re under attack from the Trump regime and from ICE, we have to protect one another.”

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