Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes has sparked outrage by threatening to prosecute ICE agents and implying citizens could use lethal force against masked feds under the state’s Stand Your Ground law.
Her comments come amid reports of increased ICE presence in Arizona, fueling fears of mass deportations that could finally secure the border after years of open-door chaos under previous administrations.
In a recent interview with local outlet 12 News, Mayes laid out her insane posture toward federal immigration enforcement.
BREAKING: Democrat Arizona AG Kris Mayes is ENCOURAGING people to report and dox ICE agents and suggests that people can shoot ICE agents if they’re wearing masks because you don’t know if they’re agents or not pic.twitter.com/Z3q58HhXot
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 23, 2026
“We are watching you,” she declared to ICE agents. “If you violate an Arizona law, I will prosecute you, we will investigate you, and we will make sure that Arizona laws are enforced. That includes assault, murder, unlawful imprisonment, and other state crimes.”
Mayes highlighted Arizona’s gun culture and expansive self-defense statutes, pointing to potential dangers from unidentified agents. “We’re a gun culture in this state,” she said, adding “You have these masked Federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks. And we have a Stand Your Ground law that says that if you reasonably believe that 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.”
When pressed on the implications, Mayes pushed back. “Well, but it’s the facts,” she responded. She added, “You’re not allowed to shoot peace officers,” but questioned, “But how do you know they’re a peace officer?”
She elaborated, “It becomes, did they reasonably know that they were a peace officer? You know?”
Mayes even referenced her own readiness. “By the way, I’m a gun owner,” she claimed, adding, “If somebody comes at me wearing a mask and I can’t tell whether they’re a police officer, what am I supposed to do?”
@AZAGMayes NEEDS TO BE REMOVED ASAP! Encouraging Citizens to Stand Your Ground with weapons against Federal Agents. TYRANT
— Austin (@xzaeu) January 23, 2026
She urged restraint among protesters but promised protection. “Stay peaceful. Stay restrained. You know, be respectful of each other and law enforcement. Don’t take the bait, because I think that’s definitely going on. You know, they’re trying to bait people all across this country. And, you know, if you do that, everything should be okay, and I will protect you.”
Mayes also targeted ICE’s treatment of tribal communities. “The other thing that I wanna say to ICE is keep your hands off of our tribal members,” she warned.
The AG’s office launched a new webpage encouraging citizens to report and submit videos of alleged federal misconduct. “We are encouraging people to send us their videos, and they have every right under the First Amendment to record those videos,” Mayes stated.
Mayes’ rhetoric escalated further when she appeared at a violent anti-ICE protest, as captured in footage shared by Libs of TikTok. Protesters clashed with federal agents, hurling slurs and resisting removal from an ICE facility.
In the chaos, Mayes showed up and told the rioters, “I appreciate you all being here.”
HOLY SHIT: Democrat Arizona AG Kris Mayes showed up to a violent anti-ICE protest and told protesters who FOUGHT federal agents that she "appreciates" them.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 23, 2026
Anti-ICE rioters appeared to attack federal agents after agents tried to remove them from an ICE facility. Protestors also… pic.twitter.com/ZNH16Us62A
Her attendance underscores the left’s alignment with radical elements opposing border security, even as agents face physical attacks.
The fallout has been swift, with Republicans and law enforcement slamming Mayes for endangering federal agents. Calls for her resignation poured in, including from Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh, who demanded she “immediately retract what she said, admit that it was bad and dangerous advice and following that, she needs to resign in disgrace.”
?FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Majority Leader John Kavanagh Calls on Attorney General Kris Mayes to Retract Dangerous Statements and Resign
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) January 23, 2026
Full press release: https://t.co/mRunhzry4I@JohnKavanagh_AZ pic.twitter.com/GTUgOYo2UL
Congressman Abe Hamadeh condemned her words as “justifying the murder of our ICE agents” and “reprehensible but entirely predictable,” attributing it to elevating “a far-left political activist” to the role.
State Senate President Warren Petersen called her comments “reckless, dangerous, and disqualifying,” emphasizing the need to support ICE amid threats to their lives while enforcing laws under President Trump’s high standards for immigration.
Kris Mayes is completely incompetent. Stand your ground laws do not apply to law enforcement officers aka ICE!! See ARS 13-419.C.4. You cannot shoot an ICE officer. If you do then you will be prosecuted for MURDER. Just another example of why she loses in court all the time.…
— Warren Petersen (@votewarren) January 23, 2026
The Arizona Police Association’s Joe Clure described her interview as “giving a tutorial on how to shoot police officers, specifically ICE agents,” warning it could give a “green light” to violence.
Arizona Police Association Statement on Attorney General Mayes’ Comments Regarding ICE Operations
— Arizona Police Association (@AZPoliceAssc) January 23, 2026
Phoenix, AZ— Arizona Police Association Executive Director Joe Clure issued the following statement regarding Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ reckless comments regarding ICE… pic.twitter.com/leNrFWHLmT
This controversy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened ICE operations in Arizona, with agents conducting targeted enforcement amid Trump’s renewed push for deportations. Recent actions included raids on Tucson restaurants, sparking protests and concerns over agent identification. Masked tactics have raised impersonation fears, but critics argue Mayes is stoking division to obstruct federal efforts.
In another interview on KTAR News, Mayes reiterated, “You can use lethal force to protect yourself. So, if somebody is breaking into your house and you think your life is in danger you’re allowed to use lethal force i.e. a gun or some other weapon.”
She defended her stance: “I don’t want people using lethal force ever, ever against a police officer but police officers, cops, identify themselves.”
Shocked by the backlash, she said, “I’m shocked that there are Republicans down at the legislature that are criticizing me for saying what is a fact in Arizona.” Adding, “It is the law. It’s a law they passed by the way.”
Republican candidate Mark Lamb urged a retraction, stressing support for the Second Amendment but warning her words risk “being used as permission for the use of violence against federal agents.”
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She did not “threaten ICE agents”. She threatens unidentified people wearing masks and attacking you.
The Arizona AG must be a consummate moron! Shooting a uniformed Federal Officer wearing a Badge and POLICE on the uniform being able to be shot for wearing a mask is sheer stupidity! Law Enforcement is allowed to do this universally to prevent retributions and hamper on-going investigations, he statements, we think, open her up to impeachment and Federal criminal actions. These democraps are going totally off the rails! Nothing will change until politicians start suffering dire consquences!
Coexistence with leftists is a fools errand that only condemns our own children.
Until people realize & accept that nothing can really be fixed because they will not accept the real solutions.
I agree. Police must openly and clearly identify themselves as police when making an arrest. Otherwise they must be assumed to be criminals attempting to kidnap or harm.
OR, for idiots like the above commenter, next time you are robbed, kidnapped, or car-jacked, just cooperate with the nice men.
Quit it. You know exactly what she intends. She hates the gun laws of AZ and wants to overturn them. She’s exploiting them to achieve a political end and she wants citizens harmed and ice agents killed, it feeds her evil agenda which is quite simply electoral advantage.
Changes nothing. She is correct. Trying to find something wrong with a fact because the wrong person said it is a fake illogical ploy.
If this ignorant bitch was doing her job, this conversation wouldn’t be happening…. but this leftist bitch refuses to uphold her Oath of Office, so it becomes explicitly clear that the federal government will need to uphold the constitutional law of our country. Fire her immediately, strip her of her pension and prosecute her for dereliction of duty and endangering the lives and welfare of the public.
Could not agree more!
This ag is nothing but a liberal woman and God how I hate them, they are America’s downfall. Look at the EU’s ruling class liberal women and soi-boi men. Where are the Margaret Thatchers { iron lady) when you really need them. Where is Pam Bondi at because encouraging people to shoot and or dox federal agents is a jailable offense, Isn’t it????
Cops need to carry stun guns (not the same as Tasers).
They switrched to tasers because tasers offer the same ability and the ability to use non lethal force at range.
If you have to wait till the target is right next to you you will likely get stabbed, hit in the head etc….
And even then sometimes stun guns & tasers are not enough hence why if a target has a gun they use a gun.