Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego unveiled a border security and immigration reform plan that was immediately endorsed by several House Democrats.
Gallego, the son of Mexican and Colombian immigrants, offered a "five-pillar" framework he said expresses his commitment to securing the southern border.
"We don’t have to choose between border security and immigration reform," Gallego said.
"Americans deserve the right to feel safe knowing their border is secure, but for decades, Congress has tried and failed to take action because politics got in the way. It’s time to push forward and enact a plan that works," Gallego said.
Typically seen as a Republican issue, Gallego’s border security plan combines GOP priorities like staffing-up the Border Patrol, with Democrats’ favored "pathway to citizenship" for select migrants, in part for economic benefit.
Gallego’s plan also outlines asylum process reform by "expedit[ing]" people’s passage through the system and also seeking to enforce that other countries do their "fair share" to resettle asylum seekers and combat cartel violence and economic instability in their home areas.
It increases the annual green card quota and increases the use of e-Verify, an application that verifies an employee’s legal status when it comes to working in the U.S.
In terms of asylum case reform, Gallego seeks to hire additional officers to process claims and afford them more jurisdiction in deciding the outcome of applicants’ cases.
"I commend Sen. Gallego for this pragmatic and much-needed framework," said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, a supporter of the plan.
"More Democrats need to move to the middle on this issue and embrace this type of approach," he said.
"As a border-district congressman, I know it's past time we reform our asylum system, stop the flow of dangerous drugs by investing in our Border Patrol officers, develop legal pathways, tackle the root causes of irregular migration, and ensure South Texas, and communities all along the border – can safely thrive."
In the north, Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., also lent his support to the plan.
"Sen. Gallego is a serious Democratic leader, and I applaud him for offering a balanced immigration policy that secures our borders, fixes the broken asylum system, grows our economy, and treats immigrants with dignity," Suozzi told Fox News Digital.
"We can achieve these goals without pandering to the far left’s impractical demands or the far right’s mean-spirited extremism."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Kush Desai ripped Gallego's plan, saying he should "read the news."
"We don’t need a new bill to secure our southern border, end the illegal abuse of parole, and get other countries to crack down on illegal migration into the United States. We just needed President Trump back in office."
The reelection campaign of Governor Katie Hobbs, D-Ariz., has tapped someone with a penchant for slamming white people, despite being white himself.
Hobbs, a vocal progressive and anti-Trump leader, brought Michael Beyer on as her 2026 reelection campaign communications director in April despite his history of going after people because they are white, and not just Republicans either.
A look through Beyer’s X account shows the staffer levying criticism on social media as early as 2014 against a range of demographics, all with one thing in common – they're white.
Beyer has accused the "religious right" of being united through "a belief in white supremacy," blasted self-professed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders' voters for having "white entitlement" and accused Taylor Swift and other "white people" of "romanticizing the conquest of Africa."
Beyer has also espoused anti-gay rhetoric targeted at gay white Republicans, positing in a social media post about the leader of one of the longest-standing pro-gay GOP nonprofits in the country that it was "unclear" whether he was "just a bunch of twinks standing on top of each other hiding in a trench coat." In another post, Beyer complained there were too many "white men" in a 1980's news segment about HIV, while in another Beyer suggested "white suburban voters" in Louisiana "had taken over" the local newspaper.
The Arizona governor's recent hire is just the latest in a series of tumultuous staffing issues Hobbs has faced as governor. In 2022, it was reported that in just five months two-thirds of Hobbs' gubernatorial campaign staff left, with several describing their work on the campaign as "emotionally abusive." Meanwhile, Hobbs has also been forced to fire past employees over inflammatory social media posts.
"White evangelicals are the only group that predominantly wants anti-gay discrimination, poll shows," Beyer posted on then-Twitter in 2017, along with a link to a blog from Slate. "Once again, it is a belief in white supremacy that unites the Religious Right," he added in his tweet.
In addition to blaming religious conservatives for being racist, Beyer also said in 2015 that Republicans in general "thinks [sic] they only have to answer to white voters." In a subsequent post, Beyer slammed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for only appealing to "whites" after allegedly "romanticizing U.S. colonialism."
Turning to liberals, Beyer has also had choice words for white Bernie Sanders supporters, saying in a 2016 post on Twitter that they all have "white entitlement." He suggested in another post around the same time that the only reason Sanders won New Hampshire during the 2016 election was because the state is "91% white."
In 2015, Beyer went after Taylor Swift and other "white people" for "romanticizing" colonialism. "Only white people would be the people romanticizing the conquest of Africa," Beyer said in a 2015 post, referring to Swift's song "Wildest Dreams" that debuted around the same time. His post was in response to a separate tweet Beyer posted that included a link and title of a NPR op-ed with the headline: "Taylor Swift Is Dreaming Of A Very White Africa."
Despite Beyer's numerous claims suggesting white people are racist, he contended in 2017 that "white people are very bad at identifying racism/racists."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Hobbs campaign to question whether it would be reconsidering its decision to hire Beyer, but never received a response.
Beyer himself did not respond when reached for comment, either.
In addition to Beyer, Hobbs has a history of hiring other staffers who have made controversial remarks on social media. She has also had an issue with high turnover in her office.
One of Hobbs' former press secretaries was fired in 2023 after posting an image of a lady drawing two pistols from her hip, which included the caption "Us when we see transphobes." The social media post came the same day a gender-confused individual opened fire at an elementary school in Nashville, after which some critics cited the person's gender dysphoria as a possible catalyst for the horrific event.
Hobbs' office has also been impacted frequently by an unusually high turnover rate among her staff. In 2022, it was reported that two-thirds of Hobbs' gubernatorial campaign staff left across a period of just five months, with some of the departing staff describing their work on the campaign as "emotionally abusive."
The culture was apparently so bad, the staffers said, they had to upend their lives mid-election to seek employment elsewhere.
Hobbs has lost staffers in the middle of ongoing legislative sessions, and, in 2023, Hobbs' legislative director resigned just hours before the release of the state's budget.
At least one of Hobbs' staffers went from their job on her campaign to another job with Arizona politics.
EXCLUSIVE – Bipartisan lawmakers are introducing a bill on Capitol Hill Thursday focused on protecting the country’s water systems from foreign hackers, just months after China admitted behind closed doors that it was responsible for a series of attacks on U.S. infrastructure.
Senators Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., authored the Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act to help protect public water systems and respond to cyberattacks, which have become more frequent in recent years.
"In Arizona, we know better than most the importance of safe and secure access to water. But adversaries also understand the importance and are increasingly trying to undermine our water security," Gallego said. "It is critical that we ensure our public water systems have the resources they need to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. That’s exactly what this bipartisan, commonsense bill does."
The bill would extend and expand a portion of the Safe Drinking Water Act, called the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program, to provide technical assistance and grants to community water systems that can be used for training and guidance on cyberattack protections and responses.
Cotton said cyberattacks on public infrastructure are a growing threat.
"This bipartisan bill will strengthen our ability to protect essential services and support local water utilities in building stronger cyber defenses," he added.
The bill comes less than a month after the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials acknowledged behind closed doors in December that their government was responsible for a series of attacks on U.S. infrastructure.
In the exclusive report, those who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed Chinese officials connected the cyberattacks on U.S. ports, airports, utilities and other important targets to America’s support for Taiwan.
The report noted that Biden administration officials learned of the attacks first hand during a summit in Geneva, as their Chinese counterparts blamed the campaign, referred to as Volt Typhoon, on a criminal organization.
Chinese officials also accused the U.S. of blaming China based on their imagination.
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier this month it had made clear to Beijing that the U.S. will continue to take actions in response to Chinese malicious cyber activity targeting the U.S.
"Chinese cyber threats are some of the gravest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security," the spokesperson said. "The United States will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to safeguard U.S. critical infrastructure from irresponsible and reckless cyberattacks from Beijing. President Trump is committed to protecting the American people and U.S. critical infrastructure from these threats."
The Chinese Embassy told FOX Business that China "firmly opposes" the smear attacks against it without any factual basis.
The Biden administration warned state leaders in March 2024 that cyberattacks by hackers linked to Iran and China could take down water systems across the U.S. if cybersecurity measures were not taken as a precaution.
Then Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael S. Regan and Jake Sullivan, the assistant to Biden for national security affairs, said in an email to state governors that cyberattacks were targeting water and wastewater systems throughout the U.S.
In the letter, the two Biden administration officials said the attacks could disrupt clean and safe drinking water and impose significant costs on affected communities.
In January 2024, Russian hackers launched an attack on the water system in Muleshoe, Texas.
The hack caused the small Texas town's water sytem to overflow and within two hours sent tens of thousands of gallons of water flowing out of the town's water tower. Muleshoe was one of three small towns in the rural Texas Panhandle targeted by a Russian hacktivist group.
Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told legislators in a letter that the cybersecurity firm Mandiant attributed the attack on Muleshoe to Sandworm, which is believed to be connected to Russia's spy agency, the GRU.
Faced with a dilemma following his endorsement of conservative Karrin Taylor Robson to run for governor of Arizona, President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will also support Republican Rep. Andy Biggs after the lawmaker "unexpectedly" entered the contest.
Robson, a small business owner and lawyer, received Trump's endorsement when no one else was running, Trump said in a Truth Social post.
"I like Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona a lot, and when she asked me to Endorse her, with nobody else running, I Endorsed her, and was happy to do so," Trump wrote. "When Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem."
As a workaround, Trump decided to endorse both candidates. Biggs and Robson, both Republicans, have touted Trump's backing.
"Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH," Trump said. "Either one will never let you down. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Robson said she was grateful for Trump's endorsement.
"I am so grateful to have the President’s support! Today, President Donald Trump reaffirmed what he told me from the rally stage in December when he urged me to run: That he supports me and has fully endorsed my Arizona First campaign. I cannot wait to be in the Governor’s Office as a partner to his conservative, America First agenda. Onward!"
"Thank you, @realDonaldTrump!" Biggs wrote on social media. "It’s been an honor to support you and fight for your agenda since 2016. I look forward to fighting along side you as Governor of Arizona, the greatest state in the nation!"
Both candidates have pledged to focus on cutting taxes and stronger border security.
"I thank President Trump for his strong endorsement and look forward to working with him to secure our border and make Arizona safe again," Robson said in a statement at the time of Trump's February endorsement. "Like President Trump, I know how to create jobs. And like President Trump, I will not rest until our border is secure and Arizona families are safe."
Arizona is currently led by incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who took office in 2023. The general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.
Eduardo Barboza, right, instructs his employees on a project.
Courtesy of Eduardo Barboza
General contractor Eduardo Barboza says pricing uncertainty caused by the tariffs have disrupted his business.
Investors are choosing to pull out of renovation projects as costs have gone up.
Barboza is paying his employees to work on his own to keep them busy through the downturn.
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with general contractor Eduardo Barboza, 41, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Barboza has been in the construction industry for 22 years and has owned a business for 10 years. He's seen a significant disruption to his business since the Trump administration announced plans for new tariffs in January. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The full impacts of the tariffs haven't developed yet, but we're already dealing with pricing uncertainty. It's created a lot of unknowns, which is making it very hard to do business.
We had a pretty good system for estimates. Everything was based on our records.
Someone would come to us with a bathroom project, and we knew it'd be around $5,000. Now, we can't say for sure. The flooring, the tile, it could all go up overnight.
Eduardo Barboza, right, directs one of his employees
Courtesy of Eduardo Barboza
Now, every piece of the project has to be dissected. Turnaround for estimates is up from 24 hours to 72 hours. I've even had to assign an extra person just for pricing. That's money and time we lose as a business.
Some owners are mad at me right now. We were contracted in November to do the the main electrical service on an 84-unit building in Glendale. There were 15 banks of electric meters we had to replace and each one went up in price. It was very hard to go to the client and said, "Hey, by the way, that $225,000 project is now going to cost you $278,000."
The owner didn't cancel that project, mostly because it was required maintenance. Any other kind of project is in serious jeopardy.
Investors are walking away from renovations
Barboza says his team lost out on nearly $500,000 in cancelled projects this month.
Courtesy of Eduardo Barboza
Instead of renovating homes to flip, investors are just selling homes as is, which hurts our business. Just in the past week, we lost two major projects.
One was a $1.3 million house in Scottsdale. As we were doing the pricing, flooring went up $1 per square foot, tile went up 36 cents per square foot, cabinets went up 10% and then an extra 10% like a week later. So we had to bump up the price to $143,000. The investor decided to keep the home as is.
We had the same scenario with a $1.5 million house in Scottsdale that needed a little over $326,000 worth of renovations. With the current market, renovation at that scale didn't make sense for the investor.
Those were jobs we had in the bag, we were just waiting to start. That's almost $470,000 and just came off of our books in seven days.
I'm paying my team to work on my home to weather the slowdown
It costs a lot of money to build a good team, and I'll do anything I can to keep them.
Finding new business is my job. So if I don't have jobs lined up for the week, my employees still all get paid for that week. It's not their fault. It's mine.
This week I told them come to my house. I'm going to pay them anyways, so I said let's finish up the projects I've been pushing off. I have a crew laying down concrete pavers around my pool. It's costing me around $3,800 for the week.
We've been through moments like this before. It's a return to the mindset we had during the 2008 recession or the early days of the pandemic.
When times get tough like this it's a mentality of "screw the profits," every decision is just survival to stay afloat. Can we just make enough to keep the guys paid? We can worry about profits at another time.
As the leader of my business, I can't bring fear to my team.
EXCLUSIVE: All 15 Arizona counties have now begun the process of verifying and removing noncitizens from their voter rolls, including nearly 50,000 registrants who did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
"This settlement is a great result for all Arizonans," America First Legal (AFL) senior counsel James Rogers told Fox News Digital after his organization’s successful lawsuit spearheaded the process in Arizona.
AFL filed the lawsuit against the 15 Arizona counties last year on behalf of EZAZ.org, and Yvonne Cahill, a registered voter and naturalized citizen, arguing that the counties had not been following a state law that requires proof of citizenship to vote in local and state elections and for the state to do monthly checks of the rolls for noncitizens.
As a result of the lawsuit, the 15 counties have now begun working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship status of all registered voters in the state who failed to provide proof of citizenship.
While a 2013 Supreme Court ruling prohibits states from imposing voter registration requirements beyond the federal requirement that registrants must check a box affirming their U.S. citizenship, Arizona residents are still required to provide proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections.
The Arizona law also requires that county recorders perform a monthly list maintenance to confirm the U.S. citizenship of so-called "federal-only voters," a list of nearly 50,000 individuals who failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship and were not allowed to vote in state or local elections.
Registrants confirmed to be citizens are then moved to the regular list while those found to be noncitizens are required to have their registration canceled.
But AFL argued in the lawsuit that county recorders had not been utilizing the resources available to them to help verify citizenship status, something the Arizona law requires them to do. As a result, all 15 counties have now sent requests to DHS in order to assist their efforts to clear the voter rolls of noncitizens.
"This will help County Recorders find and remove any aliens on their voter rolls," Rogers said. "It will also potentially enfranchise federal-only voters whose citizenship is confirmed, which would allow them to vote in state and local elections. AFL congratulates each of Arizona’s 15 county recorders for taking this bold and important step for election integrity in the state."
The U.S. military will take control of a strip of federal land that spans three states along the southern border in an effort to stem illegal immigration, a memorandum Friday by President Donald Trump said.
The memorandum, "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions," directs the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security "to provide for the use and jurisdiction by the Department of Defense over such Federal lands, including the Roosevelt Reservation and excluding Federal Indian Reservations, that are reasonably necessary to enable military activities."
He wrote it could include "border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment."
"Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats," Trump wrote in the memorandum. "The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past."
The federal land, which consists of a narrow, 60-foot-deep strip at the border within the Roosevelt Reservation, would become a "military installation" designated as "National Defense Areas" where "military activities" would occur.
The Roosevelt Reservation covers California, New Mexico and Arizona and was designated as federal land by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 to keep the border secure.
The memorandum added that the secretary of defense can "determine those military activities that are reasonably necessary and appropriate to accomplish the mission" of keeping the border secure.
Kimberly Kelley, 71, moved from a small town in Arizona to Panama in 2023.
Kelley lives in a condo on the beach, paying a little more than she spent on housing in the US.
Her groceries, car-related payments, and healthcare costs are cheaper, and she's much happier.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, a 71-year-old retired hypnotherapist who moved from Arizona to Panamain 2023. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I'm from Arizona — a town called Cottonwood, up near Sedona.
Before I retired, I worked as a licensed hypnotherapist and was also a minister at a spiritual center that my ex and I founded. After living in Cottonwood for years, a number of factors made me want to leave — not just the town but ultimately the US as well.
During COVID-19, many people from California started buying property in Sedona and renting it out short-term, which drove up prices and pushed out local workers. People who could no longer afford Sedona moved to Cottonwood, which then caused prices to rise there, too.
Affordability wasn't the main reason I wanted to leave the US. The increasingly toxic political environment also concerned me. On top of that, my husband and I got divorced after 30 years of marriage, my mom passed away, and the dog I had rescued died — all within three months of each other.
I just tapped out. I needed a fresh start, a sense of adventure — something that would let me reinvent myself.
While I've always been comfortable traveling, my biggest hesitation was missing my family. But after some reflection, I realized that my family is spread out across the US, and I only see them about once a year anyway.
I thought, why not do that from another country like Panama?
My Google searches led me to Panama
Panama came onto my radar through an online search.
I was looking up the best and most affordable places to retire on the beach. Every time I typed something in, Panama kept popping up.
Several things attracted me: the country's natural beauty, climate, and affordability. The fact that they speak Spanish was another big plus. I have a Spanish background and wanted to brush up on my language skills. I'm getting fluent — still not quite there yet, but close.
Panama is also not that far from the US — about four hours from Houston — so it's easy to get back if needed.
The country offers some incredible financial benefits for retirees. The most important ones for me are the 25% discount on round-trip flights originating in Panama, 50% off entertainment, and 25% off healthcare. That's on top of its already incredibly low prices.
I took a scouting trip to Panama in July 2023, and just four months later, in November, I sold everything I owned and made the move.
I'm paying more for housing, but it's worth it
I live about an hour and a half outside Panama City, in a little town called San Carlos. I love it here.
It's kind of a busy area that is known for its beaches. Many expats have settled there, and one of the main hubs nearby is a town called Coronado. That's where all the key amenities are — larger grocery stores (not quite big-box by US standards, but big for here), hardware stores similar to Home Depot, doctors, dentists, hair salons.
It's also a popular vacation spot for locals from Panama City. Many own condos out here that they rent out on Airbnb when not using them.
Kimberly Kelley in Panama.
Courtesy of Kimberly Kelley
When I came on my recon trip in July, I had a handler named Angela. She took me all over the area to check out different neighborhoods where I could live. I wanted a condo on the beach — that was non-negotiable.
By chance, we connected with a condo owner, an American who retired in Panama City. She and I hit it off, and she offered to hold a unit until I could move in November.
My condo came fully furnished. There's just one door in, which opens into the kitchen. A balcony overlooks the ocean directly across from it, and I also have a second balcony off the bedroom.
When I first moved in, the rent was $900 monthly, including all utilities. The owner raised it to $1,000 this past year, but it's still a bargain by anyone's standards. It's a beautiful place, not some cheap little unit.
Back in Cottonwood, I lived in a studio apartment attached to the spiritual center my husband and I owned. I paid just $600 monthly, which was a bit cheaper. However, my place in Panama is more than worth the difference.
Besides the views of the Pacific Ocean and all the amenities I get from being near the city, I live in an area where many local fishermen come in. Around 8:30 every morning, they return from their night catch, and I can buy fresh fish straight from them.
I'm saving big on groceries and other expenses
Each month, I set aside money for living expenses such as housing, groceries, my car, personal maintenance fees, entertainment, and my US cellphone plan.
I budget about $300 a month for groceries. Some months, I've spent between $400 to $500, including extras — like food for potlucks, get-togethers, wine, and beach parties. Overall, it's really affordable, especially if you shop locally. If you prefer US brands, you'll pay a lot more.
Fruit in a Panamanian market.
MichelGuenette/Getty Images
I purchased a cute little 2012 Hyundai Accent outright for only about $5,000. My car insurance is just over $200.
I spend around $80 a month on fuel. Panama is a small country, and I don't drive nearly as much as I did when I lived in Arizona. That helps keep costs down. Car repairs here are also super affordable — labor runs about $25 to $35 an hour.
Healthcare is affordable, too. When I first visited Panama in July 2023, I got really sick from something I picked up in Belize. I ended up seeing two different doctors, receiving four days of steroid and antibiotic shots, going to the hospital, having X-rays and lab work, and being prescribed multiple medications.
The total cost? Under $300. That kind of care would've been impossible for that price in the US. That amount would have maybe covered a single office visit there.
I am living a dream in Panama
There's so much I love about Panama. First and foremost, the Panamanian people — they're some of the warmest and kindest you can imagine.
Making friends here has been one of the easiest parts. I joined several expat groups on Facebook, including tons specifically for Panama. From there, I found more targeted groups on WhatsApp based on my interests and activities.
Of course, I did have to adjust to a few things. The infrastructure, for example, took some getting used to. Things like trash pickup, potholes, and general maintenance can be a bit inconsistent.
People also don't lock up their dogs like we do in the States. I work with a group called Spay Panama, and we gather as many stray dogs and cats as possible — with permission from their families, of course. We take them to be spayed or neutered and then return them to their owners.
Kelley, left, and her friends in Panama.
Courtesy of Kimberly Kelley
The biggest adjustment was learning to live in "mañana time." There's just a completely different energy here: laid-back and relaxed. I no longer enjoy that rushed, go-go-go mindset.
It takes courage, but it also requires a lot of curiosity and a desire to move somewhere new and reinvent yourself. I think the happiest expats are the ones who are looking for an adventure.
While I pay more in rent than I did for my old place in Arizona, living in Panama has been absolutely worth it.
My environment, peace of mind, and overall quality of life have all improved. Honestly, the lifestyle I have here would've been completely out of reach for me in the US. I feel like I'm living a dream — but this is truly my life.
President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, received a warm welcome from the Republican legislature in Arizona – while Democrats walked out of the special joint session in protest within seconds of his 30-minute speech.
"I think this is just another reason why it just shows again that the Democrats are totally out of touch with Americans," Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson told Fox News Digital in an interview. "We expanded our majorities because immigration is a top issue, especially here in Arizona as a border state. I guess what's surprising is that they keep doubling down on issues that they're completely losing on."
State Democrats walked out while holding pieces of paper with the names of people deported under the Trump administration's mass deportation program, as Homan appeared unfazed, saying, "I love it. Thank you for making my day. I love haters, they make my day every day."
"We won because of the Hispanic male voting Republican, and the Democrats are completely out with their base on this issue," Petersen said. "So, they do have some people that are extreme, that are opposed to border security. But what I am finding is that the majority of Hispanics want Arizona to be safe and they want the borders to be secure."
Instead of attending Homan's speech, several Democrats gathered outside the state Capitol to rally and denounce the administration's immigration policies, with Rep. Anna Abeytia reportedly in tears as she spoke about the growing "rise of anti-immigration sentiment" in her community.
State Sen. Catherine Miranda, a Democrat, called it "disturbing" that Republicans would give "a platform to someone who has caused so much harm in our community."
Miranda claimed Homan is not just responsible for deporting people, but for "kidnappings, disappearances and the deportation of individuals for reasons as unjust as having tattoos, protesting or being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Right now, they might only be going after the right to due process for immigrants, but soon they will be coming for you or your loved one's due rights processes as well," Miranda said in a statement.
State Rep. Betty Villegas, another Democrat, called ICE "cruel" under Homan's leadership, "even by Trump-era standards."
Homan was invited by Arizona Senate and House Republicans to talk about the status of illegal border crossings and missing migrant children. At the end of his speech, he signaled his support for state measure Proposition 314, the Secure the Border Act, passed by Arizona voters in November.
"Congratulations on your immigration legislation. I know it's being litigated, but you will win," Homan said.
Homan also said the administration is "not going to apologize" for deporting illegal immigrants through the Alien Enemies Act.
"They came here to unsettle this country, to cause harm," he said. "We will not apologize for sending two planeloads of terrorists out of this country."
The Trump administration initiated deportation flights targeting alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Despite a federal judge’s order to ground the planes, the administration went ahead, arguing the flights were already en route and beyond U.S. airspace when the injunction was issued.
The Supreme Court later ruled that the administration could continue deportations under the Alien Enemies Act but said deportees must be notified and allowed to challenge their removal.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem spent Tuesday morning with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Arizona law enforcement agents going after illegal immigrant criminals in the Phoenix area.
Standing with a gun in her hands, Noem said in a video posted to X that she was going out with ICE to pick up someone facing charges of human trafficking. She also said she went out earlier with agents and swept up a person wanted for murder.
"I appreciate the work that they do every day, and we appreciate them working to keep America safe," Noem said.
In another post, Noem shared images of her standing with law enforcement officials and sitting in an ICE vehicle while wearing a Kevlar vest.
She also shared pictures of law enforcement officials arresting two men, one who had no shoes and the other who was wearing a pair of Crocs.
"Arizona is safer this morning after a successful operation getting criminal illegal aliens and gang members off our streets," Noem wrote. "Thank you to our brave law enforcement officers. If you are in this country illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back."
Noem toured the facility where she met face-to-face with alleged Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members, all of whom were wearing white prison suits and had shaved heads.
She also sent a message from the prison to illegal immigrants who are still in the U.S. or plan to visit anytime soon.
"First of all, do not come to our country illegally: You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted," she said while standing with her back to the inmates. "But know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people."
Noem shared the video on X, saying, "President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison."
Trump’s hard-line approach to illegal immigration was a key campaign promise, and his administration has also been arresting and deporting criminal illegal migrants across the country under the leadership of Noem and border czar Tom Homan.
FIRST ON FOX: Schools around the country could soon be able to opt into the "Congressional Fitness Challenge," including legendary boxer Mike Tyson’s own academy.
House Concurrent Resolution 20, introduced by Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., would create a voluntary program that would allow students who successfully complete the challenge to receive a signed certificate from the speaker of the House, president pro tempore of the Senate, and the student’s senator and congressman.
"Listen, because we need to be in shape, man," Tyson told Fox News Digital in an interview.
"We can't physically get into an army because we're out of shape. And that's embarrassing. So it comes across we're the most heavy, heaviest people in the planet. We're the fattest people in world, Americans," he continued. Specifically, Tyson noted 77% of Americans aged 17 to 24 would need a wavier in order to serve in the military, according to the Department of Defense.
"It's just mental. It's just a shame, but it can be helped," Tyson said of the issue.
It would apply to students in K-12 public and private schools, groups that provide the testing to home schoolers, and members of Congress who hold a "community-based event" for the challenge, the current text states.
According to the resolution, the benchmarks will be inspired by "historical" lines for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, which was popularized under the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson administrations in the 1960s.
"So we got to make sure that they're physically fit. Now is the perfect time to be instituting this once again, because we understand President Trump through his Cabinet picks and through what his campaign promises have been with the America First agenda, where he wants to make America healthy again," Hamadeh said.
The test itself would entail a mile-long run or walk, pull-ups or a flexed arm hang, curl-ups, sit-ups, shuttle runs, and sit-and-reach. Those who perform well would be divided into gold, silver, and bronze levels. The gold level would be in the top 85th percentile, silver would cover the top 75th percentile, and bronze would be in the top 50th percentile, the legislation states.
Tyson added that actions like this give him hope for the future.
"I think this is going to improve, and people are going to get better, and people want to get healthier. I just believe that," he said.
Tyson is at the helm of Tyson Transformational Technologies Academy, a private school in Arizona that is part of the My Life My Power International Preparatory Academy, which has campuses in Florida and West Virginia as well. The academies plan on taking up the challenge.
"I believe in this country and I believe we're going to get well and we're going to be in good condition. And we're gonna be able to go into the army and defend our country," Tyson said.
Other athletes have come out in support of the resolution, including former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
"Love this! So important for our Youth," Brown posted to X.
"As a former pro athlete, one of us knows first-hand the doors that physical fitness can open— confidence, leadership, the drive to succeed. As a Member of Congress and former US Army Captain and Intelligence Officer, the other sees the broader picture – healthier kids mean a healthier, more prosperous America," Favre and Hamadeh co-wrote in an op-ed for OutKick in March.
The resolution is co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Tony Wied and Martin Stutzman.
"Right now, people are really focused on what foods have been going into their bodies and how come the obesity rate has tripled," Hamadeh said. "And it's a real problem in terms of a national security perspective. So the government has an invested interest in this. but also the American people do it themselves as well."
As House Republicans move forward with legislation this week that they say would wrangle "rogue" judges across the country who have been blocking President Trump’s agenda, Fox News Digital spoke to GOP Rep. Abe Hamadeh about the importance of that quest.
"If you look at what President Trump has been going through compared to previous presidents, it's unheard of," Hamadeh told Fox News Digital about the dozens of injunctions already issued against Trump since taking office.
"It's unprecedented the amount of injunctions trying to stop President Trump's America First agenda, which, overwhelmingly, the American people support, and to have one district court judge be able to determine the direction of our country is not what the judiciary is meant for."
The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA), introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., would limit district court judges' ability to issue orders blocking Trump policies nationwide, and Republicans are expected to advance the legislation out of the House Rules Committee and vote this week.
Hamadeh says he supports Issa’s bill, which Issa told Fox News Digital when he introduced it was introduced in February, will push back on the current judge-shopping climate in the United States that he says represents "judicial tyranny" and "weaponization of courts."
Hamadeh explained that he has signed onto several efforts to impeach some of the judges who have issued nationwide injunctions, knowing that the efforts are unlikely to succeed but to send the message that the sentiment in Congress and with Trump voters is one that believes "enough is enough."
One of those judges facing impeachment calls, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, issued an emergency order temporarily halting the Trump administration's deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, which Hamadeh took particular issue with.
"The federal bench right now has to be very careful, they're losing legitimacy constantly every single day, when you see the constant pushbacks, I mean, it's amazing," Hamadeh said. "What President Trump wants to do is deport illegal immigrants who are terrorists, who are murderers, who are rapists, and they're trying to stop that."
"They're trying to keep them in our country. Well, what happened when Biden was importing so many of these illegal immigrants, literally flying them in from their countries of origin into the United States? They never weighed in on that issue. So it's shocking to see that the judiciary, sadly, has been in the way of what President Trump is trying to accomplish. but we are going to limit them, here in the House, and I'm sure it's gonna pass the Senate as well and make its way to the president's desk."
Many prominent Democrats have praised Boasberg’s ruling after years of either silence or indifference about the border crisis, which Hamadeh told Fox News Digital is evidence that they "don’t know what they’re fighting for."
"Democrats are in a world of trouble, especially knowing who is on the bench and what they're actually fighting for has been really opposed to what the American people want," Hamadeh said.
"We want to save communities, we want to stop fentanyl, and we want to deport these terrorists, illegals, and the rapists and murderers who have come into our country because of Joe Biden's disastrous border. I'm from Arizona. To see President Trump, literally in two months, get the border encounters to a 97% decrease, it's shocking. It's amazing to see that type of result. That's why the American people voted for President Trump. And unfortunately, you see these judges trying to stop them."
The House is also expected to move forward with the SAVE Act this week, which requires proof of citizenship in the voter registration process.
Fox News Digital spoke to Hamadeh about his efforts working with Republicans to push election integrity, an issue that saw a Republican victory recently when voters in Wisconsin voted to enshrine voter ID into the state's constitution.
Hamadeh, along with GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney, recently introduced legislation to codify Trump's recent executive order on election integrity that mandates voter ID into law.
"I want everybody to know that there's never been a disenfranchised voter because of election integrity," Hamadeh said. "Disenfranchisement is because of election fraud and President Trump is trying to prevent that."
Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report
EXCLUSIVE:Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is asking the Department of Justice to scrap a report that could lead to intense federal oversight of the Phoenix Police Department.
In a letter to newly sworn-in Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, Petersen asked the DOJ to retract a report from the Biden administration about civil rights issues within the department. The report would essentially try to get the city of Phoenix to agree to high federal involvement through the DOJ.
The June 2024 report said that the department and the city "engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law," including "excessive force" and discriminatory practices against minorities and homeless people.
"The DOJ’s report contained a host of biased and inaccurate findings against the City’s Police Department, putting Phoenix on a path for a destructive and costly consent decree that would discourage our brave men and women in blue from reducing crime and protecting innocent Phoenicians. It would also have a tremendous impact on the agency's ability to recruit and retain enough officers to service our communities report," Petersen wrote.
Petersen argued that if the police department went under a consent decree with the DOJ, it would create similar challenges to what the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deals with now after coming under a consent decree in 2015, which is expected to exceed a $310 million price tag in the coming months, the Republican lawmaker argued.
"Former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, a Democrat, resigned from his position last year, in large part, due to frustration from the consent decree hanging over his office. He said, ‘I’ll be damned if I do three terms under federal court oversight, for a debt I never incurred, and not be able to serve this community in the manner that I could if you took the other hand from being tied behind my back. Because the future without law enforcement doesn’t look good,’" he said.
He acknowledged that the department has pushed for reforms on their terms, saying that there should be accountability for issues with "rogue police agencies or officers," but noted that this is not the way to go about it.
"In short, these consent decrees are nothing more than backhanded attempts to hijack police departments and bring them under the control of the federal government," he added. "The consent decrees are unconstitutional and exploited by overreaching presidential administrations."
Before being elected to the Senate, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego used his official House office to write to the Biden DOJ voicing opposition to a consent decree in August.
"I strongly urge DOJ to consider entering into a technical assistance letter with the City of Phoenix rather than continue to pursue a consent decree," Gallego wrote. "While the DOJ raises several valid points in its findings report, both PPD and the City of Phoenix already welcome reforms to advance the mission to protect Phoenix’s residents from crime and safeguard their civil rights."
While Biden was still in office, many progressives in the state argued that there should be federal accountability for the agency.
"Phoenix PD needs federal oversight," the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted in October 2024 following an incident in which officers allegedly severely mistreated a deaf, disabled Black man, Tyron McAlpin, who is now suing the city and the offices involved. His charges were scrapped, and the officers received a 24-hour suspension, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.
The DOJ did not respond in time to Fox News Digital for comment.
Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Park City, Utah, are wealthy hot spots in the US.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Wealthy individuals are moving to luxury estates in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Park City, Utah.
Both areas offer privacy, nature access, and proximity to business hubs.
I visited both and found there were also key differences. Only one would suit my lifestyle.
From the "Beverly Hills of Arizona" to Utah's Silicon Slopes, the most expensive cities in these states have one thing in common: rich people are flocking to their luxury mountain estates tucked away next to business-booming capitals.
I'm a New Yorker who visited both millionaire hideouts — Paradise Valley in April 2024 and Park City in January 2025.
I'm quite fond of the bustling lifestyle my city offers, so I didn't expect to leave either place with the thought that I'd consider moving there someday, but one of these towns felt like a place I could call home in the distant future.
Paradise Valley and Park City are wealthy areas on the outskirts of major cities.
Park City, Utah, and Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Google Maps
At the bases of the Camelback and Mummy mountains, Paradise Valley sits on roughly 15 square miles of land between Phoenix and Scottsdale. It's about a 20-minute drive to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
On 20 square miles along Utah's Wasatch Front, Park City is conveniently located near Salt Lake City and the tech-centric suburbs of Draper and Lehi, among others. Park City is roughly 30 to 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City International Airport by car.
Paradise Valley has been a residential enclave since its inception in the 1960s.
A property in Paradise Valley, Arizona, at the foot of Camelback Mountain.
David C Tomlinson/Getty Images
Paradise Valley was developed for residents craving an escape from the fast-paced lifestyles in the neighboring cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale, according to the town's website.
Today, Paradise Valley remains mostly residential, save for a few resorts and businesses on the town's borders.
According to World Population Review, Paradise Valley has roughly 12,400 residents and a median household income of $236,250.
Shawn Shackleton, a local real-estate agent, told Business Insider that Paradise Valley has had a primarily luxury market since she began selling homes there more than 20 years ago.
Park City grew into a ski town over the last century.
A ski slop viewed from a resort deck in Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Park City wasn't always a luxury ski hub. When the city was established in 1884, it was known for its silver mining industry, according to the town's website. In 1930, when a ski jump was built on a mine site on top of a pile of wasted rock, Park City began to transform into a skier's paradise. During the 2002 Olympic Games, the town hosted ski jumping and bobsledding events.
The town has grown a lot since then, and it's gotten more expensive, local real-estate agent Derrik Carlson told BI.
Billionaires, celebrities, and wealthy Californians buy homes in Paradise Valley.
A property in Paradise Valley.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Shackelton told BI that larger lots and lower taxes have drawn affluent residents to Paradise Valley, from entrepreneurs and C-suite executives to medical professionals and retirees.
AZ Central reported that high-profile people, from musicians Alice Cooper and Alicia Keys to Campbell Soup heir Bennett Dorrance and pro athletes including Michael Phelps and MLB Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, have purchased homes in Paradise Valley.
Park City draws a mix of backgrounds; about half of incoming residents live there part-time.
Real estate in Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
From California to New York, Florida, and Chicago, techies, business owners, CEOs, and retirees are starting over in Park City, Carlson told BI. About half of Park City buyers are in the market for a vacation home and only reside there for about three months a year.
Curbed reported that A-list celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, have lived and vacationed in the private and exclusive Colony neighborhood.
Park City is more affordable than Paradise Valley.
A downtown street in Paradise Valley.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
If I consider moving elsewhere, I have to be realistic about the cost of living. So, when I returned home from both trips, I looked at the numbers using Payscale's cost-of-living calculator, which factors in prices for housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.
Paradise Valley's cost of living is 123% higher than the national average, while Park City's is 66% above the national average.
In both cities, housing is the driving factor for the high cost. Paradise Valley's home expenses cost 521% more than the US average, while Park City's are 268% above the national average. You'll find cheaper groceries and utility bills in Park City, while healthcare and transportation cost less in Paradise Valley.
The luxury market dominates Paradise Valley real estate.
On the high end of the market, custom homes costing around $30 million are sprawled across vast, private properties in various architectural styles, from Southwestern adobe to modern luxury.
While exploring Paradise Valley, I noticed the more affordable homes were at the town's lowest elevations. As I approached the streets leading up into the mountains, I saw nothing but luxury estates.
"When you get up into the higher price points, many of the houses in Paradise Valley are individually gated," Shackleton said. "Some like the feeling of being their own private estate."
Park City has a wider range of price points.
Slopeside mansions in Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
According to Realtor.com, Park City has a median listing price of $2.2 million, with more listings available for under $1 million than in Paradise Valley. Seeing slightly more affordable homes on the Park City market made living there seem more attainable than in Paradise Valley.
Still, the most expensive homes on the market cost up to $50 million for ski-in, ski-out mansions — some built in traditional mountain cabin style and others boasting modern architecture with flat rooftops and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Like in Paradise Valley, the price point seemed to rise with elevation. The most modest homes I spotted were at the bottom of the mountains. To see the mega-mansions, I went up to a ski resort deck and peered over the ledge. Estates sat on the edges of trails dotted with skiers. I imagined residents gearing up and sliding into the action from their front doors.
Only Park City has a downtown area with walkable streets.
A ski lift in downtown Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
As a New Yorker, having a downtown neighborhood in whatever city I live in is important to me. And as someone who doesn't drive, walkability is also crucial. So, I was excited by Old Town, Park City's downtown area, where there are homes, restaurants, stores, entertainment venues, and even ski lifts.
"Downtown is designed to be walkable to get to Main Street or skiing," Carlson said.
On Zillow, only a few condos under $1 million are listed in this neighborhood — even the smallest houses cost seven digits.
Paradise Valley is about 10 to 15 minutes from shopping in Downtown Scottsdale by car, depending on the neighborhood, but you can't beat the convenience of walking.
Both cities support active, outdoorsy lifestyles, but the weather is drastically different.
A ski slope in Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Paradise Valley and Park City are both scenic locations immersed in nature. I'm sure I'd be happy to wake up to either mountain landscape each morning. Residents of both towns said they appreciate outdoor activities like golf, hiking, and mountain biking.
But the seasons have completely different weather patterns.
When I visited Paradise Valley in the spring, it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I felt perpetually sweaty, and I couldn't imagine doing any strenuous activities outside in the summertime when it's often in the 100s. But I'm sure I'd spend all winter in nature, enjoying sunny, breezy days in the 70s.
Winter weather in Paradise Valley is summer weather in Park City. And Park City winters are crisp and frosty. Growing up in Connecticut, I know the challenges of months of snow — bitter walks against the wind, ice soaking my socks, and endless shoveling.
But there's also something magical about a city feeling like a completely different place for a portion of the year. I loved spending entire days shoveling my friend's backyard pond in ice skates just to glide around for an hour before sundown and do it all again the next day. And when the snow melted, I was so grateful for the spring and summer months.
I'm sure winter weather would feel even more magical in Park City if I took up skiing or snowboarding. I thought having another hobby I could only enjoy in the coldest months would make me look forward to the winter.
I could see why wealthy people are moving to both locations — but I'd only consider Park City.
The reporter in Park City.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Paradise Valley and Park City are both naturally stunning and provide opportunities for active lifestyles, large-scale living, and convenient city access. But Park City's walkable streets, seasonal variation, and more affordable real estate made me think it could be suitable for me someday.
A UFC fighter played hero in his Phoenix neighborhood late Friday night by apprehending the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a neighbor's home.
Henry Cejudo said he saw a car "probably going 80 to 100 miles an hour" and heard a loud boom. He then saw the car had crashed into his neighbor's home.
After hearing the crash, Cejudo saw the driver leave the car after a bit of a struggle and tried to get him to stop.
The owner of the home did the same. But when the driver "cold-cocked" the neighbor, "that's when I had to step in," Cejudo told MMA Junkie.
From there, it was easy for the former flyweight and bantamweight champion and his neighborhood wrecking crew.
"Pretty much all my neighbors came in to fight the situation. I ended up lifting him, dropping him, slapped him around a little bit and just pretty much controlled him," he said.
The daughter of the late Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., will run for her father’s seat in the upcoming special election for the solidly Democrat-leaning district.
Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva announced her campaign for Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District on Monday, making good on the promise to make her decision clear after her father’s funeral.
She noted in her launch video posted to X that she is the daughter of "a man who spent his life fighting for justice, equity, and dignity for the most vulnerable communities."
"From working as a vaquero to serving the people in the halls of Congress in a single generation. That’s the promise of this country, and that’s the legacy that’s helped shape me," she added. "This is the America that I want to raise my three beautiful children in. But today, that idea of America is under a serious threat," the Democrat added, saying that President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and a "gang of billionaires" are taking aim at the "most sacred rights" in the country.
Grijalva quickly reached the signature threshold necessary to make the Democratic primary ballot within the day. The primary election is on July 15, and the general election is on Sept. 23.
"In less than five hours since launching our campaign, we have collected enough signatures to be on the ballot," she said in a video shortly following her launch. For Democrats, a minimum of 798 verified signatures is required to make the ballot in the race and a maximum of 31,906 signatures, according to the Secretary of State's office.
The Democratic congressman died last month after a battle with lung cancer. Grijalva will be facing off against former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who recently touted over $200,000 in campaign coffers.
"WOW!!! We just hit $200,000 raised since we launched on Monday. I’m BLOWN AWAY by the support—and ready to get to work. We’re building something powerful in Arizona. Let’s keep it going!!!!!!!" Hernandez posted last week.
A former NFL player may just have plans for his next career move: Congress.
According to local reports, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely, currently a CBS analyst, is "seriously considering" making a run at a seat in Congress in the state.
Feely is "laying the groundwork" to begin a run for the state's 5th Congressional District, according to the Arizona Republic. Current Rep. Andy Biggs is running for governor next year, and his seat will be vacated.
The outlet noted that Feely has played golf with President Donald Trump both in Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago, while also becoming friendly with Republican leaders in the state.
Roughly 45% of the active voters in the district are Republican - 20% are Democrats.
Feely would hardly be the first former athlete to try his hand in Congress. Tommy Tuberville and Herschel Walker have both done the same.
Since the seat was formed in 1983, it has been red for all but just six years.
Feely was undrafted out of Michigan in 1999. He was a part of the national champion team in 1997 and first joined the Arena Football League before making his NFL debut with the Atlanta Falcons in 2001.
He played there for four seasons before heading to the New York Giants for two, then had a one-year stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2007, just missing the Giants' Super Bowl XLII victory.
Feely then suited up for the Jets in 2008 and 2009 before spending his next four seasons with the Cardinals. He hung up the cleats after the 2014 season, which he spent with the Chicago Bears.
It’s morning again in the border community of Yuma, Arizona, but there’s still work to be done to ensure long-term security and to clean up leftover challenges.
Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines explained the challenges faced in the wake of a high influx of migrants into the community at times throughout the Biden administration.
"Chaos first, and abandoned second," Lines, a Republican, said of the border under former President Joe Biden, but said it is "controlled" under President Donald Trump.
In the Yuma sector alone, there were hundreds of thousands of migrant encounters during the Biden administration. In February, there were 8,326 illegal border crossings marked down by United States Customs and Border Protection. The number of people placed a strain on local resources in the area, including the local hospital.
"The message is that we'd like our not-for-profit hospital to be reimbursed to the tune of about $32 million. That's auditable costs… it caused undue burdens here in our local communities," Lines said.
Fox News Digital reported in 2023 that the Yuma Regional Medical Center had to deal with millions in unpaid medical costs given the number of illegal immigrants that came in for care.
"Our food bank was impacted, as well as kind of the medical community as a whole, just because of fentanyl," Lines said.
"We've seen a significant impact of fentanyl here in the community. One of my best friends just lost his oldest nephew two weeks ago. The pills are being sold for about $2.50. There needs to be serious consequences for the Chinese and for the cartels that are dealing and pushing this product into the United States," he added.
In 2022, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey placed metal storage containers along some of the gaps in Yuma, which were eventually taken down because of legal action from the federal government. Now, construction of permanent border wall panels in gaps along the border in the area is underway, following a reversal of Biden's policies once Trump retook office.
"As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction, we’re going to continue to make America safe again," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a video posted to X on March 16.
The region became a key focal point for politicians on the 2024 campaign trail, with many stopping for visits despite not running in geographical border states themselves — a key indicator that border security and immigration were a top issue for American voters.
"Every state has been impacted by the human trafficking as well as the trafficking of narcotics. For the last four years, as I've traveled throughout the United States, every single community leader or member of a community has approached me saying that they have never seen such an impact from narcotics and from illegal immigration in their communities, and that their resources to provide for the individuals in their community have been exhausted," Lines said.
President Donald Trump announced Friday he had nominated former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to become the next U.S. ambassador to Serbia.
"Mark is a proud Veteran of the Army National Guard, and previously served as Attorney General for the Great State of Arizona," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
"As the son of refugees who fled communism, Mark will be a strong advocate for Freedom, and always put AMERICA FIRST. Congratulations Mark!"
EXCLUSIVE: Arizona state Senate President Warren Petersen will write to Education Secretary Linda McMahon asking for a meeting to discuss what he characterized as a campus crisis of DEI proliferation in the Grand Canyon State.
Petersen, R-Gilbert, will tell McMahon the Trump administration was right to make ending the ubiquity of on-campus "un-American propaganda," including DEI initiatives, a chief priority.
"For too long, state and federal officials have allowed university regents, presidents, faculty, and staff to indoctrinate our young men and women. … They have taught our college students to hate the greatness of our nation and discriminate against others," Petersen wrote.
"Many colleges have even done the bare minimum — or nothing at all in some cases — to stand in defense of our Jewish brothers and sisters who have been attacked.
"I was extremely heartened to learn that your department is holding universities accountable for their refusal to conform to existing laws blocking any institution from receiving federal funding due to discrimination," he added, noting that it "did not go unnoticed" that some schools like Arizona State were on both of the public lists of universities under federal investigation on this front.
"Arizona’s public universities … have demonstrated a troubling track record of using tax dollars to implement DEI programs. Examples include job postings addressing commitments to DEI, required trainings for staff and faculty that push discriminatory ideas of ‘critiquing whiteness’ and ‘heterosexuality is privileged and going unquestioned,’ as well as requiring students to obtain credits in DEI-related courses like 'Introduction to Queer Studies' and ‘Multicultural Perspectives of Natural Resource Management.'"
Petersen then asked for a meeting with McMahon to help her in enforcing the mandate and hold Arizona colleges accountable that do not comply, adding he fears many stated reforms are just "window dressing."
In ASU’s case, college officials told FOX-10 the university is no longer affiliated with the proscribed program the feds had highlighted.
