Home>Arizona>Arizona Migrant Rights Groups Exposed in Viral Harassment Incident Amid ICE Raids—Protester Tied to AG Mayes and Rep Stanton
Arizona AG Kris Mayes (Photo: screenshot)
Arizona Migrant Rights Groups Exposed in Viral Harassment Incident Amid ICE Raids—Protester Tied to AG Mayes and Rep Stanton
Puente Human Rights Movement and Mijente’s tax filings should be audited due to their ties to political figures and continued obstruction of law enforcement
In a disturbing display of aggression caught on video, radical left-wing activists allegedly coordinating with the Phoenix-based migrant rights organization Puente Human Rights Movement, harassed young women for simply posing for photos with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident, which unfolded in a parking lot in Phoenix on Monday night has gone viral, drawing attention to the tactics employed by radical far-left groups amid the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
The video, originally posted by conservative activist R.C. Maxwell on X , shows a group of individuals confronting the women, demanding they “get the f— out of here” and admitting intentions to capture license plates for posting on social media to “counteract law enforcement actions.” One woman in the footage explains the goal is to raise “community awareness” about ICE “tearing apart families,” while others gesture aggressively and follow the victims while screaming vile obscentities. Maxwell’s post explicitly states the harassers “admit some level of coordination with @Puenteaz ” tagging the Phoenix Police Department for action.
MAXWELL: DHS NIGHT TURNS HEATED IN PHOENIX@RCMaxw3ll reports from Phoenix after filming a confrontation during DHS activity, saying protesters crossed “the line between dissent and coercion.” He notes one man involved is a local Democratic treasurer and fundraiser.… pic.twitter.com/zbwE22o51Z
Witnesses and online commentators have labeled the behavior as potential felony harassment under Arizona law, with one reply noting, “They literally say ‘let’s go harass these girls,’ which is a felony in Arizona.” According to Maxwell, the Phoenix police has requested a meeting to file a report and review evidence.
New details from exclusive reporting by RedState reveal the most aggressive individual in the video is Mark Holodnak (seen in the above post), a member of the Legislative District 12 Democrats executive board (azld12dems.org) and a local real estate agent, who has since been fired by his real estate employer. Holodnak has hosted fundraising events for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat who assumed office in 2023 after a razor-thin victory. According to Maxwell, Holodnak is also a bundler for Democrat Congressman Greg Stanton. The article highlights concerns over ties between Mayes’ office and activist networks that track ICE activities, potentially to illegally obstruct law enforcement or harass civilians.
As we reported, Mayes has faced intense criticism and calls for her resignation from her recent comments suggesting Arizona’s “stand your ground” law may provide lethal self-defense justifications against federal agents.
Mayes’ office has declined to comment on the harassment incident, but Republican state officials argue her rhetoric contributes to a volatile environment where protests escalate quickly. Federal officials have warned that activist efforts to identify and follow agents increase the risk of violent escalations and outcomes.
Background on Puente
Puente Human Rights Movement, often simply called Puente, was founded in 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona, in response to the state’s controversial anti-immigrant policies, including the infamous SB 1070 “Show Me Your Papers” law. The organization describes itself as a “grassroots migrant justice organization” focused on supporting undocumented immigrants, day laborers, and mixed-status families through advocacy, education, and empowerment. Its mission includes fighting local and federal immigration enforcement, providing resources like “Migra Watch” guides for observing ICE activities, and organizing protests against deportations.
Over the years, Puente has evolved into a key player in Arizona’s immigrant rights scene, leading vigils, lawsuits, and community mobilizations. In 2019, it joined a lawsuit against the Arizona State Legislature challenging legislative privileges in immigration-related cases, which was remanded by the appeals court in 2022. The group has also partnered with coalitions like One Arizona, a voter engagement initiative that has registered thousands of Latino voters and boosted turnout in key elections.
Critics argue Puente’s activities often cross into obstructing law enforcement, as evidenced by their “observer pocket guides” and calls to document ICE vehicles.
Puente’s Ties to Local Government and Progressive Politics
Puente’s leadership has long been intertwined with Arizona’s Democratic establishment. Current president Gerardo Torres and treasurer Marisa Franco oversee operations, with Franco also serving as a co-founder of the national migrant rights network Mijente.
Mijente, a 501(c)(4) Chicano activist organization, is associated with Mijente Support Committee, a 501(c)(3) funded by billionaire philanthropists, including George Soros’ Tides foundation.
According to Influence Watch:
In conjunction with the AFL-CIO labor union, Mijente Support Committee published a toolkit for activists and employers to resist raids and audits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce immigration-related employment laws. In 2022, the organization spent $3,944,202 on its program activities.
Mijente Support Committee runs several left-of-center activist campaigns. Its No Tech for ICE campaign opposes the use of technology by Department of Homeland Security agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Bureau to identify and deport illegal immigrants. 12 The “Chinga la Migra” campaign (Spanish for “F**k ICE”) opposes immigration raids and deportations. 13 Las Vidas Negras Importan campaign supports the far-left Black Lives Matter Movement.
Past leaders include Phoenix City Councilmember Carlos Garcia, a co-founder who resigned as executive director in 2021 amid internal troubles, and Jovana Renteria, another co-founder who stepped down the same year. Garcia, a Democrat and former vice mayor, has been vocal against immigration enforcement and remains active in progressive causes.
Phoenix District 7 Councilwoman Anna Hernandez, elected in 2025, has been linked to Puente’s “anti-fascism” efforts, publicly stating “no politician is going to save us” while fighting Trump-era policies. These connections highlight how Puente’s leaders often transition into Democratic political roles, amplifying the group’s influence in local governance.
The involvement of figures like Mark Holodnak, an executive board member of LD12 Democrats, further illustrates the overlap between Puente-aligned activism and Democratic Party structures.
Mark Holodnak and another Puente activist (Screenshot)
Puente’s alignment with the Democratic Party is evident through its voter mobilization efforts and leadership crossovers. As part of the One Arizona coalition, Puente has driven Latino voter turnout, contributing to Democratic gains in Maricopa County, which flipped Arizona blue in 2020.
Nationally, Puente connects to progressive networks influencing Democratic policy, such as through Marisa Franco’s role in Mijente, which endorses left-wing candidates. In Arizona, ties run deep: Carlos Garcia’s council seat and Anna Hernandez’s advocacy exemplify how Puente alumni shape Democratic agendas on immigration.
The recent harassment incident, involving a Democratic LD12 executive board member with fundraising ties to AG Kris Mayes and Rep. Greg Stanton underscores the ‘nonpartisan” nonprofit’s ties to Democratic party officials.
As ICE operations intensify under President Trump, incidents like this reveal the underbelly of radical, anti-American activist groups like Puente and Mijente. While they claim to empower marginalized communities, their methods—funded by progressive donors, intertwined with partisan politics, and now linked to figures close to the state’s top law enforcement official—raise serious questions about accountability, potential obstruction of federal duties, and the rule of law in border states like Arizona.
Law enforcement must act swiftly to prevent escalation, the IRS must audit their network of finances and review the nonprofit statuses of organizations directly funding and supporting the obstruction of law enforcement, and voters should scrutinize these networks’ influence on Democratic strategies ahead of future elections.
Megan Barth is the Executive Editor of The California Globe and former, founding editor of the Nevada Globe. Specializing in investigative reporting, her work has appeared in national and local news. The highlights of her career include interviewing President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and FBI Director Kash Patel. When she isn’t editing, writing, or talking, you can find her hiking and relaxing in Northern Nevada.
December 16, 2018
