Arizona Attorney General Warns Trump Deporting Dreamers Would Be a ‘Bright Red Line’

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has made it clear that she opposes any efforts by President-elect Donald Trump to deport Dreamers or establish deportation centers in her state.

In an interview with The Guardian, Mayes, a Democrat, stated that such actions would cross a "bright red line" and vowed to use all legal means to resist them.

Mayes emphasized her commitment to protecting Dreamers, beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields individuals brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

"I will not stand for an attempt to deport them or undermine them," Mayes declared. "I will do everything I can legally to fight [family separation or construction of deportation camps]. Not on our soil."

Dreamers derive their name from the DREAM Act, first introduced in 2001 by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and the late Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The legislation aimed to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

While it has been reintroduced numerous times, most recently in 2023 by Durbin and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the act has never passed into law. Former President Barack Obama incorporated elements of the DREAM Act when he created the DACA program via executive order.

Trump previously attempted to dismantle DACA during his presidency, but his efforts were halted by the Supreme Court in the case DHS v. University of California. Despite this, Trump has reiterated his commitment to stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations, which Mayes strongly opposes.

In prior statements reported by the Arizona Mirror, Mayes warned that mass deportation proposals, particularly those championed by Trump and his designated "border czar," Tom Homan, could lead to significant abuses of power.

She has called for a more targeted approach, prioritizing the removal of violent criminals and drug cartel members over sweeping deportation measures.

Mayes highlighted her commitment to due process and individual rights, aligning herself with other Democratic attorneys general in neighboring states. She praised the cooperative efforts of New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and California Attorney General Rob Bonta in addressing border and immigration issues.

However, she noted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divergence from this collaborative stance, describing him as the only border-state attorney general who is not aligned with their approach.

Despite her opposition to Trump’s immigration policies, Mayes acknowledged the challenges posed by a porous border and the fentanyl crisis, which has deeply impacted Arizona communities.

She emphasized the need for more federal resources to combat these issues effectively, advocating for increased funding for Border Patrol and the prosecution of cartel-connected individuals rather than deploying the National Guard to assist with mass deportations, as Trump has suggested.

"When Arizonans voted for Donald Trump, they did not vote to shred the Arizona and U.S. Constitution, and I strongly believe that," Mayes said in the interview. She reaffirmed her dedication to safeguarding constitutional rights while addressing the legitimate concerns of Arizona residents regarding border security and the opioid epidemic.

Mayes’ remarks reflect a broader strategy among Democratic attorneys general in border states to resist federal overreach on immigration policy while advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes public safety and upholds individual rights.

As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, Mayes' firm stance underscores the growing tensions between state and federal authorities on this contentious issue.