Rising Tensions in Pima County Over Federal Border Patrol Support

All Arizonans this fall could decide whether to boost the role of local police in border enforcement, as Republicans placed a measure on the statewide ballot that would empower cops to arrest people suspected of being undocumented. This issue also has local implications, highlighting critical disagreements among law enforcement in Arizona over cooperation with federal border police.

A local election next week will determine if the leadership of a major border county will increase collaborations with the border patrol in the coming years.

Operation Stonegarden, a federal grant program that provides local police with funds and equipment to patrol the border for immigration enforcement, has become a contentious issue in the Pima County sheriff’s race. Incumbent sheriff Chris Nanos supports the county’s decision to abandon the program several years ago. However, his opponent in the upcoming Democratic primary, Sandy Rosenthal, wants Pima County to rejoin Operation Stonegarden.

Rosenthal, a former deputy with the Pima sheriff’s office, has criticized Nanos for leaving the grant money unused amid budget and staffing shortages. At a recent candidate forum, she argued that the partnership could help curb the flow of fentanyl into the community.

“It allows us to get more deputies out in the farther reaches of Pima County,” Rosenthal said. “When you give up an area, bad things happen. The cartels, they enjoy what’s happening now. They don’t have to worry about any deputy sheriff being out along the border.”

In contrast, Nanos maintains that local law enforcement should not engage in border enforcement, which is a federal responsibility. According to Nanos, the Stonegarden patrols benefited primarily the border patrol, not the community, as the patrols focused on remote areas with minimal crime.

“That grant didn’t benefit the community at all. It benefitted border patrol because it gave them boots on the ground,” Nanos told Bolts. “Officers on Stonegarden assignments didn’t work for the sheriff. They worked for border patrol.”

This local debate mirrors broader disagreements in the state, with some officials arguing that focusing on border issues distracts from everyday concerns like the drug crisis and crime. Research shows that immigrants commit less crime than U.S.-born people and that most fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. comes through legal ports of entry, often by U.S. citizens.

Adelita Grijalva, the Democratic chair of Pima County’s Board of Supervisors and an opponent of the Stonegarden program, worries that its reintroduction would lead to racial profiling, disproportionately affecting Hispanic residents.

“People of color, specifically Latinos, are going to be targeted because of the way we look,” Grijalva said. “Having our Pima County Sheriff pulling people over based on suspicion is a huge concern.”

Arizona’s history with immigration enforcement is fraught with controversy. A 2010 state law allowed police to arrest immigrants not carrying their documents, leading to widespread criticism and parts of the law being struck down for promoting racial profiling. This, along with other hardline policies, spurred a strong immigrant rights movement in the state.

Activists in Pima County have long opposed the Operation Stonegarden program, arguing it creates fear in immigrant communities and undermines trust in local law enforcement. In 2018, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to end its participation in Stonegarden, rejecting $16 million in grants over 12 years due to concerns about humanitarian impacts and chilling effects on community trust.

Tucson’s police department also withdrew from Stonegarden in 2020 after federal officials denied requests to use grant money for humanitarian aid. However, neighboring areas like Marana continue to participate, using funds to patrol rural smuggling routes.

The political landscape in Pima County could shift after the elections. Democrats currently control the Board of Supervisors, but all seats are up for election this year. A new sheriff intent on ramping up immigration enforcement could influence other county officials, particularly with potential changes in federal administration.

The winner of the Democratic primary between Nanos and Rosenthal will face one of three GOP candidates—Bill Phillips, Heather Lappin, or Terry Frederick—in the November election. While the Democratic nominee is favored in this predominantly blue county, Republicans have seen local successes in recent years.

Voters in Pima County will also contend with Proposition 314 on the November ballot, which would give state and local law enforcement more power to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants. Both Nanos and Rosenthal oppose the measure, and litigation to remove it from the ballot is ongoing.

Grijalva remains optimistic that Pima County voters will favor candidates who oppose increased immigration enforcement.

“The positions on Stonegarden have been a deciding factor for many voters,” she said. “Pima County continues to be a place that values humanitarian principles, justice, and community safety.”