Created Aug-2025 by AZ Voice News, with assistance from DALL-E.
PHOENIX – State Sen. Analise Ortiz (D–Phoenix) has drawn intense criticism after posting online that ICE agents were operating near a South Phoenix elementary school. The posts, which named a specific location and time, risked alerting individuals targeted in federal enforcement actions.
Senate President Warren Petersen called the move “deeply troubling” and has referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney for possible investigation. “Public servants have a duty to uphold the law and respect those who enforce it, not undermine them,” Petersen said.
Ortiz defends her actions as community “transparency,” but critics point out that warning potential targets is not transparency — it’s interference. ICE operations are often high-risk, involving dangerous criminals and gang members. Publicizing their locations can compromise officer safety and jeopardize entire missions.
This is more than a partisan spat. It’s a stark example of how some elected officials are willing to put ideology ahead of public safety. When a state senator undermines federal law enforcement to score political points, it’s not just a lapse in judgment — it’s a dereliction of duty.
The coming weeks will show whether ethics investigators hold Ortiz accountable. Alerting criminals to law enforcement raids isn’t transparency — it’s sabotage and it’s dangerous. Ultimately the voters also need to hold Ortiz accountable.