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Following extensive public comments at the conclusion of last week's meeting, the Flagstaff City Council declined to place the topic of federal immigration enforcement and deportation efforts on a future agenda.

Councilmember David Spence had submitted a Future Agenda Item Request (FAIR) for “a discussion regarding immigration [and] deportation issues in Flagstaff in light of the current federal deportation initiative.� The support of three councilmembers is required to approve a FAIR. Only Spence and Councilmember Anthony Garcia ultimately chose to support the request.

In his explanation of the request, Spence said, “We live in turbulent times with regard to migration, both legal and extralegal. There are federal statutes and an aggressive federal deportation initiative underway at this time to rid America of persons without legal status. There are also existing state statutes, as well as a bill pending in the Arizona Legislature: Senate Bill 1164, which has the nickname 'AZ ICE Act.'�

That act, if approved, would require Arizona law enforcement agencies to comply with detainer requests issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It would also prohibit the enactment of any policy, at any level of government, that “prohibits or restricts cooperation� with immigration enforcement agencies. The bill has passed the state Senate and is under consideration by the House.

At least two other bills seeking to mandate greater state-level cooperation in federal immigration enforcement actions have been introduced in this legislative session: , and . The latter seeks to establish a “deportations fund� giving local law enforcement agencies a $2,500 bounty for each undocumented immigrant they assist in deporting. Gov. Katie Hobbs has already stated that she will veto that bill if it reaches her desk.

Also pending is the legal viability of Arizona’s Proposition 314, which would designate crossing the U.S.-Mexico border outside of a port of entry as a state crime in addition to a federal one.

Proposition 314 was approved by voters in the November 2024 general election, but that provision cannot take effect unless a federal court rules in favor of a similar law in Texas.

“I am proposing that we have a council discussion on how federal and state actions in this arena will affect Flagstaff and our residents,� Spence said. With a nod to the city attorney, he specified that he was not suggesting Flagstaff should violate any federal or state law.

Spence’s FAIR drew an atypical number of public comments. Three people spoke against the proposed agenda item, and 10 spoke in favor of it.

Among the commenters opposed was Phil Goldblatt, who asked city council, “Why are you worried?� Goldblatt stated that undocumented immigrants are “some of the worst criminals from other countries.� ( has demonstrated that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, actually commit crimes at a lower rate than the U.S.-born population.)

Another commenter, B.J. Dempsey, alleged that any discussion of the subject would inevitably be aimed at “skirting the laws,� and might threaten the city’s federal or state grant funding agreements.

Those who spoke in favor of a future city council discussion argued that the issue was too consequential for city leaders to avoid.

“Better to bring this out in the open than try to hide this,� commenter Jill Stephenson said. “We need to talk about it.�

Amy Martin, another commenter who supported the FAIR, brought large prints of photographs she has taken of undocumented immigrants holding objects that symbolize their contributions to the community.

“This is so hard that we have to have this discussion without the people that this is directly affecting,� Martin said.

Other commenters read personal narratives they said were written by undocumented residents of Flagstaff. Those stories emphasized immigrants� aspirations, achievements and fears of deportation.

“They deserve to stay here � and to demonize them is really unconscionable,� Joe Bader said after reading one such story.

After the public comment period, Mayor Becky Daggett asked the council for a show of hands to indicate support for moving the FAIR forward. Only Spence and Garcia raised their hands.

The members of the council who did not support the FAIR used the subsequent “To/From� portion of the meeting, normally reserved for informational items only, to explain their reasoning.

Councilmember Lori Matthews said she was not in favor of the FAIR because the topic was “emotionally charged� and “it’s something we cannot legally do anything about.�

Councilmember Austin Aslan said, “I am very concerned by the state of affairs that prompted this FAIR and concerned for those in our Flagstaff neighborhoods who are affected.� But, he added, “We can be loud, or we can be effective.� He did not elaborate upon what actions he considers “effective.�

Vice Mayor Miranda Sweet spoke briefly, saying only, “I believe that this conversation can happen, and should happen in the community, and I believe it is happening. � I am supportive of the discussion among our community members.�

Councilmember Khara House, who was attending the day’s meeting remotely, thanked Spence for his request and acknowledged “real fear� and concern among community members. However, she said, “I fear that bringing heightened attention to some of these issues in a public forum could unintentionally place the very people we’re seeking to support at greater risk.� She was in conversation, she said, with groups that are “deeply engaged with impacted individuals,� and would continue those conversations.

Daggett also acknowledged the fear in the community: “People are scared,� she said. But similar to Aslan’s remarks, she stated, “There are more effective ways to address the issue, and those are underway.� She did not specify what those were.

Daggett encouraged members of the public concerned about immigration or deportation to reach out to their representatives on the city council via email.