'There is something coming': Senator sounds grim warning as big city braces for ICE

Gallego calls for ICE reforms as Phoenix braces for possible immigration enforcement sweep

by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
January 9, 2026

Arizona Democratic U.S. Senator Reuben Gallego spoke with reporters Friday afternoon ahead of the upcoming legislative session, giving his thoughts on possible impending immigration actions in Arizona, Medicaid cuts impacting the state and the administration’s foreign policy decisions.

Approximately nine weeks ago, lawmakers reached an agreement to end an over 40-day government shutdown but that deal will expire at the end of January and lawmakers are heading back to Washington D.C. during a mid-term election season that could shift the balance of power.

All that is also happening amid a backdrop of increased immigration enforcement actions across the country with one of those actions resulting in the death of U.S. citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests.

Now, members of Congress are seeking stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and some are seeking to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem – with Arizona Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari cosponsoring those articles – becoming major talking points on the left.

“Anything that involves law enforcement has to have a certain amount of responsibility with how you deal with the public,” Gallego told reporters when asked if he supports reforms to the federal law enforcement agency. “There needs to be reforms to ICE.”

Gallego said he was supportive of an effort by Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy that makes a number of reforms, including demasking of agents which Gallego said he was “especially” supportive of.

Gallego said you “can have proper deportation,” but that efforts by ICE and Customs and Border Protection have gone too far, and he questioned why CBP was patrolling cities far outside its normal jurisdiction.

The senator also said he was monitoring reports that Phoenix is set to be the next target for major ICE activity.

“We only know what you are hearing publicly,” Gallego said, adding that his office has sought more information. “There is something coming at some point.”

He encouraged the public to be careful and engage in civil protest, adding that Latino communities should be especially careful, suggesting that they ensure they carry additional paperwork.

On the upcoming deadline, Gallego said that while the Affordable Care Act is not a “perfect system” and needs reform, that eliminating it outright without any alternative would be detrimental to people.

“All we need to do is come together and have a small compromise,” Gallego said, noting that the House of Representatives had recently passed an extension to the ACA subsidies, with Republicans defying Trump and GOP leadership. “We are going to work on it, the bill that is coming out of the house is something we’d be willing to accept. The question is, will (Republican leader John) Thune bring it to the floor? If they do, then we will pass it.”

Even if the bill does make it out of the Senate, it likely could be vetoed by the President.

Gallego also had strong words for some of his Arizona Republican colleagues in regards to health care.

Last year’s budget reconciliation bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by President Trump, slashed Medicaid by an estimated $990 billion over the next 10 years, modified eligibility for accessing health care and implemented a slew of other changes that are set to push millions across the country off Medicaid and cost hospitals across the nation billions in revenue.

To blunt the impact of the Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals, which disproportionately serve low-income Americans who are enrolled in Medicaid, Republicans included in the budget bill the creation of a $50 billion Rural Health Fund.

Arizona will be receiving just $167 million from the Rural Health Fund, the sixth-lowest in the nation, despite promises from Arizona Republicans who represent rural communities saying it would make them whole. Arizona and the other five states that got even less have Democratic governors.

“This is where the (Juan) Ciscomanis and the Eli Cranes of the world are supposed to step up their game,” Gallego said about the cuts, referring to the Republican U.S. Reps. Ciscomani and Crane who represent more rural parts of the state.“These Republicans that voted for that ugly bill need to step up and make sure rural Arizona is held harmless because once those hospitals shut down, there is no other hospital coming in.”

Gallego also shared his thoughts on recent actions taken by the Trump administration in Venezuela and statements made by Trump and his allies regarding other countries he is looking to take similar actions in.

“This is all people just stoking this President’s ego but it is having national security implications,” Gallego said, referring to recent reports that countries that are United State’s allies are drawing up plans in case of an U.S. invasion of Greenland.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com.