Arizona AG Kris Mayes Sparks Outrage by Suggesting Protesters Can Shoot Masked ICE Officers Under Self-Defense Laws

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, is facing widespread condemnation and calls for her resignation after comments in an exclusive interview where she suggested that residents could use lethal force against masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they feel attacked. The remarks, made amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations, have been labeled “reckless” and “dangerous” by law enforcement groups and political opponents, raising concerns about incitement to violence against federal officers. 

In the interview with Phoenix’s 12 News, Mayes discussed Arizona’s stand-your-ground laws in the context of recent ICE raids, which she claimed involved agents wearing masks and not clearly identifying themselves. When pressed on whether individuals could defend themselves against such agents, Mayes responded, “Well… if you’re being attacked by [someone] wearing a mask!” She elaborated that the combination of masked agents and the state’s self-defense statutes could create a “combustible” situation.  

“It’s kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification … wearing plain clothes and masks,” Mayes said, adding, 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 asked to clarify “if she was giving license to a person to shoot an officer,’ Mayes’ responded: “Absolutely not. But how do you know they’re a peace officer? That’s the key. And so if there’s a situation where somebody pulls out their gun, because they know Arizona is a Stand Your Ground state, then it becomes, did they reasonably know that they were a peace officer? You know? I mean, this is a different set of circumstances in the state of Arizona.”

The Arizona Police Association (APA) swiftly denounced Mayes’ statements in a public release. 

APA Executive Director Joe Clure called the comments “reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous to the safety of all law enforcement professionals in this state.”  The APA’s statement, shared on X, emphasized that Mayes, as the state’s top law enforcement official, should be upholding the rule of law rather than sowing division.

Arizona Police Association Statement on Attorney General Mayes’ Comments Regarding ICE Operations
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

— Arizona Police Association (@AZPoliceAssc) January 23, 2026

On Thursday, during an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken, the Top Cop of Arizona amended her wink-and-nod statement: “If you are really sure that they are ICE and they present a badge or they present identification, then I would not recommend using lethal force against them. But one of the worries that I have is … that we have a Stand Your Ground law in Arizona,” she said.

On Friday, the police liaison for Mayes resigned, but Richie Taylor, Mayes’ spokesperson, had not confirmed to local news outlets whether Harvey’s resignation was directly due to the attorney general’s rhetoric. 

On Sunday, in a video address, Mayes now claims that “right-wing media” mischaracterized her comments, saying “It’s offensive and an outright lie” to suggest she encouraged to use lethal force against a federal officer.

In response to her attempts to clean up her own mess, Republican Attorney General candidate and Senate Leader Warren Petersen (R) stated:

Desperate Kris Mayes posted a video on a Sunday because her office is in total meltdown and chaos since her dangerous rhetoric has put law enforcement in peril. 

Her comments suggesting Arizonans could shoot ICE agents have spread like wildfire nationwide. Instead of supporting ICE, she’s doubling down. 

Fortunately for Arizona, she’ll be removed from office in less than a year.

Desperate Kris Mayes posted a video on a Sunday because her office is in total meltdown and chaos since her dangerous rhetoric has put law enforcement in peril.

Her comments suggesting Arizonans could shoot ICE agents have spread like wildfire nationwide. Instead of supporting… pic.twitter.com/l3T2AlH6oz

— Warren Petersen (@votewarren) January 26, 2026

With ICE operations ramping up nationwide under the current administration, and Democrat-led sanctuary city jurisdictions releasing violent criminal aliens onto the streets instead of  cooperating with federal law enforcement (like Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Nevada, etc), calls for Mayes’ resignation continue to mount, with some demanding a federal investigation into whether her words constitute incitement.

With Minnesota being the flashpoint of dangerous sanctuary policies that harbor and release criminal illegal aliens, beltway Democrats are promising to shut down the federal government if the Department of Homeland Security funding bill is included or not rewritten, and ICE and CBP are not “overhauled.”