Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes sparked outrage after openly calling on the public to use “lethal force” against federal law enforcement agents.
Mayes argues that, under Arizona law, residents could legally shoot Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they are masked and cannot be identified as law enforcement.
During an interview with 12 News, Mayes launched into a critique of federal immigration enforcement while simultaneously explaining how Arizona’s stand-your-ground statute could apply to ICE operations.
“You know, it’s kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks,” Mayes said.
She then laid out the legal justification.
“We have a stand-your-ground law that says if you reasonably believe your life is in danger, and you’re in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force.”
Host Scrambles to Clarify
Sensing the gravity of what was being said, the interviewer attempted to slow Mayes down.
“I want to be careful with that and understand what you’re saying because you know how that could be interpreted,” the host interjected.
But Mayes doubled down.
“Well, it’s the fact,” she replied.
“We have a stand-your-ground law, and we have, in other states, un-uniformed masked people who can’t be identified as police officers.”
Pressed again on whether she was effectively telling Arizonans they could shoot ICE agents, Mayes continued to hedge, while reinforcing the premise.
“Well… no, but again, if you’re being attacked by someone who is not identified as a peace officer, how do you know?” she said.
“I mean, if somebody comes at me wearing a mask, by the way, I’m a gun owner, and I can’t tell whether they’re a police officer, what am I supposed to do?”
AG Launches ICE ‘Reporting Portal’
At the same time, Mayes has rolled out a new state-run reporting portal encouraging residents to report ICE activity for alleged “assault,” “murder,” or “unlawful imprisonment,” which her office says it will use to initiate investigations.
Although she insists she is “not telling people to take up arms,” Mayes again pointed to Arizona’s gun laws as justification.
“No, I am not suggesting people pull out their guns, but this is a don’t tread on me state,” she said.
WATCH:
Critics: This Is an Incitement Playbook
Republican officials were quick to sound the alarm.
One GOP challenger accused Mayes of effectively providing a legal roadmap for killing federal officers while trying to shield shooters from prosecution.
“She is openly suggesting how to kill ICE officers and avoid prosecution under Arizona’s stand-your-ground law,” he said, calling her remarks a betrayal of her oath of office.
Another Republican leader labeled the comments “dangerous” and “attention-seeking,” warning they put federal, state, and local law enforcement at risk by blurring the line between lawful enforcement and violent confrontation.
ICE: Enforcement Will Continue
It comes as ICE operations have intensified in Arizona in recent months, with agents arresting dozens of illegal aliens and charging others for obstructing law enforcement.
Federal officials have also reported coordinated protests involving assaults on agents, slashed tires on government vehicles, and barricades erected to block enforcement actions.
ICE leadership has made clear they are not backing down.
“There will be more enforcement operations in Arizona,” Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede warned, emphasizing that violent resistance will not be tolerated.
Surge in Anti-ICE Violence
At a time when federal officers are already facing escalating violence, Arizona’s top law enforcement official chose to publicly explain how masked ICE agents could be legally shot, all while running a state portal to track and investigate those same agents.
Whether framed as a “legal reality” or not, critics say Mayes’s remarks amount to reckless rhetoric that normalizes violence against federal law enforcement and emboldens extremists eager for confrontation.
And with ICE activity continuing across the state, the consequences of such messaging may not remain theoretical for long.
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