Court Moves Pinal County Attorney’s ICE Dispute With Supervisors to Maricopa County

Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller secured an early procedural win in his ongoing legal dispute with the Pinal County Board of Supervisors over a federal immigration enforcement agreement, after a judge ordered the case transferred from Pinal County Superior Court to Maricopa County Superior Court. 

The dispute centers on a Section 287(g) task force agreement Miller entered into with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as previously reported by The California Globe, which authorizes certain county personnel to assist federal authorities in immigration enforcement under federal supervision. 

In late January, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize outside counsel to file a civil action to void or enjoin the 287(g) agreement, contending Miller lacked statutory authority to enter into it without board approval and that such agreements traditionally fall under the authority of the county sheriff, as reported by San Tan Valley News & Info, 

A judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Miller’s office from enforcing the task force agreement and set an order-to-show-cause hearing for Feb. 25, 2026. 

On Feb. 20, 2026, Pinal County Superior Court granted Miller’s motion for a change of venue, finding Maricopa County Superior Court to be “the most convenient and least objectionable county” for the case and rejecting the board’s request to transfer the matter to Pima County. 

Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller Wins First Legal Battle Against BOS pic.twitter.com/tiFybwYi5j

— Pinal County Attorney's Office (@PCAOAZ) February 20, 2026

In a statement following the ruling, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office wrote, 

“The Court rejected the arguments of the Pinal Board of Supervisors that the case should be transferred to Pima County. The Court stated that the Board of Supervisors’ choice of venue would likely result in more costly, time-consuming, and burdensome taxpayer-funded litigation.”

Under Arizona law, change-of-venue motions are governed by statutes that consider convenience and potential burdens on taxpayers. 

Miller’s office characterized the ruling as an early legal victory in a post to X, and a court order vacated the previously scheduled hearing in Pinal County, directing that all future proceedings be handled by the Maricopa County Superior Court. 

With the expiration of the temporary restraining order, Miller’s office announced it will resume coordination with federal immigration authorities under the 287(g) program, stating, “This means that the Pinal County Attorney’s Office will resume working with ICE to track and remove dangerous criminals from the county.”

As reported by AZ Family in December 2025, the active agreement is expected to expand Pinal County’s participation in a task force model, enabling trained county personnel to assist with immigration enforcement activities beyond jail facilities.

The legal fight arises amid broader disagreements within Pinal County leadership over the scope and authority of the county attorney’s office to participate in federal immigration enforcement partnerships. Earlier actions by the board included alleging the agreement was illegal and void and referring Miller to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office regarding alleged misuse of public resources. 

The dispute comes amid broader national debates over immigration enforcement and federal-state cooperation. During his 2026 State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress, President Donald Trump said, “In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States.” The Department of Homeland Security reported on February 4 that daily Southwest border apprehensions declined significantly in January, citing 6,073 apprehensions, a 93% reduction from daily averages under President Joe Biden.

No trial date has been set in Maricopa County as the parties prepare for further litigation.