Kris Mayes, the Arizona Attorney General (AG) and a Democrat, noted that residents can legally defend themselves against those wearing masks. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will shoot if they feel their lives are in danger, citing state self-defense laws.
During an interview with 12News, she reportedly warned that Arizona’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows citizens to use deadly force if someone perceives an imminent threat, could become a “recipe for disaster” if protesters clash with immigration officials.
The attorney general, elected in 2022, made the remarks as immigration officials began operating in various areas across the state.
“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 a mask” and described by ICE as “very poorly trained,” Mayes said in an interview.
“And we have the Stand Your Ground law, which says if you reasonably believe your life is in danger and you’re in your home, your car or your property, you can defend yourself with deadly force,” she added, according to the New York Post.
During the interview, the anchor expressed shock at Mayes’ statements and warned that they could be seen as giving residents a “license” to shoot federal agents. Mayes responded that she was observing “reality” rather than promoting violence.
She explained that if someone were to be confronted by a person who could not be clearly identified as a law enforcement officer, especially one wearing a mask, it could be difficult to know how to respond. “I mean, if someone comes at me with a mask on, by the way, I’m a gun owner and I can’t tell if it’s a police officer, what am I supposed to do? No, I’m not suggesting people pull their guns, but this is a ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ situation,” she said.
Mayes has vowed to take legal action against any ICE agent who violates state law, following federal operations in Minnesota that led to widespread unrest after protester Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot when she struck a federal officer with her car during a tense confrontation on Jan. 7.
US Rep. David Schweikert reacts
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) called her statement “reckless.” Taking on X, the gubernatorial candidate said, “Let’s not pretend this was some painstaking legal seminar.”
He criticized Mayes for hypothetically describing a situation involving a shooting and then downplaying it as mere law. He argued that someone responsible for enforcing the law should not publicly provide what could be seen as a license for violence and then be surprised when the public interprets it that way. He emphasized that the words of the state attorney general have a special meaning.
