Has Trump’s ‘border czar’ threatened to arrest Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs if she interferes with federal immigration enforcement?

No.

Though “border czar” Tom Homan has expressed support for the investigation or prosecution of leaders of so-called sanctuary jurisdictions — entities that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — he has not directly threatened to arrest Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. 

Arizona is not a sanctuary state, and efforts to formally establish sanctuary cities within its borders have failed. In April, however, Hobbs vetoed legislation that would have compelled state and local agencies to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — something federal courts have consistently ruled cannot be mandated. 

Nationwide, hundreds of municipalities and more than a dozen states have adopted sanctuary policies. An April 2025 executive order sought to withhold federal funding from these jurisdictions, but the order has been challenged in court. Federal judges struck down a similar policy during Trump’s first term. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs, or quick-response fact checks, about trending claims relating to Arizona.

Sources

• Forbes Breaking News, Tom Homan Warns Sanctuary City Mayors Impeding Deportations Will Result In Felony Charges
• The Economic Times, Tom Homan warns Dem Mayors: You can support sanctuary cities but if you cross that line …
• The White House, Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens
• Arizona Office of the Governor Katie Hobbs, Veto Letter Senate Bill 1164
• Britannica, Sanctuary Cities
• American Immigration Council, Sanctuary Policies: An Overview
• National Constitution Center The question of sanctuary jurisdictions returns to the courts
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center State Map on Immigration Enforcement