Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) sparked national outrage this week after suggesting during an interview that residents may use lethal force against masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents under the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law.
During a recent interview with 12 News anchor Brahm Resnik, Mayes stated that the law permits individuals to defend themselves with lethal force if they reasonably believe their life is in danger—particularly when facing unidentifiable individuals in plain clothes wearing masks. “It’s kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks,” she said. “We have a Stand Your Ground law that says if you reasonably believe your life is in danger and you’re on your property, you can defend yourself with lethal force.”
Resnik challenged Mayes: “To be clear, you’re not telling folks you have license if you are threatened to shoot a peace officer?”
“No!” she replied. “But if you’re being attacked by someone who is not identified as a peace officer, how do you know?”
Mayes added: “If somebody comes at me wearing a mask … I can’t tell whether they’re a police officer. What am I supposed to do? This is a don’t-tread-on-me state.”
The Arizona Police Association (APA), representing over 12,000 law enforcement professionals statewide, condemned Mayes’ comments as “deeply troubling and dangerous,” emphasizing that officers at all levels routinely operate in plain clothes or wear protective face coverings without diminishing their legal authority. APA Executive Director Joe Clure clarified: “Law enforcement officers across Arizona, including the attorney general’s own investigative teams, routinely operate in plain clothes… This does not diminish their legal authority or status as law enforcement.”
The remarks drew sharp criticism from Republican officials, including gubernatorial candidate David Schweikert, who called them “dangerous” and “attention-seeking,” and challenger Rodney Glassman, who accused Mayes of undermining law enforcement. U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon condemned the comments as “grossly irresponsible and reckless” on social media.
The APA urged all elected officials to stop politicizing law enforcement and immigration enforcement, emphasizing that Arizona’s chief law enforcement officer must de-escalate tensions rather than inflame them. “Words from elected officials matter,” the union stated. “It takes only one individual to interpret such commentary as permission or encouragement to use deadly force against police officers.”
