PHOENIX — Wednesday evening, a crowd gathered outside the Phoenix ICE office downtown for a vigil in remembrance of a Minnesota woman fatally shot by an ICE agent.
The Department of Homeland Security said the woman was driving toward an agent. Meanwhile, state and local lawmakers are pushing back on those claims.
In Phoenix, community advocates are condemning increased federal immigration operations.
Watch their response in the player above.
Over the past week, ABC15 has been working to confirm reports that ICE may be planning to step up enforcement in Phoenix.
Our team reached out to Governor Katie Hobbs' office, which sent us the following statement:
"The Governor’s Office has contacted the federal government to get more information.
Governor Hobbs remains clear: Arizona is focused on fighting crime, getting drugs from our streets, and securing the border. She supports law enforcement that prioritizes public safety over political stunts designed to create chaos or instill fear, and rejects policies that chase deportation quotas at the expense of stopping drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Arizona will not participate in indiscriminately rounding up individuals, violating civil rights, or enforcement activities that harm our communities. If this administration increases activity here, we encourage them to align with our focus and fulfill President Trump’s promise to get drug dealers and criminals off the street."
