See the A1 covers from the past for this day in history.

PHOENIX β€” No one should be prosecuted for informing others β€” even in real time on social media β€” where immigration officials are conducting enforcement actions, Gov. Katie Hobbs said Wednesday.

The governor’s comments come as Senate President Warren Petersen has asked the U.S. Attorney for Arizona to investigate whether Sen. Analise Ortiz is violating federal law with her posts. And Petersen is suggesting that the Phoenix Democrat could face legislative discipline.

β€œSen. Ortiz is fortunate the Legislature is not currently in session, as her remarks would no doubt face significant scrutiny from her colleagues,’’ Petersen said in a prepared statement. β€œPublic servants have a duty to uphold the law and respect those who enforce it, not undermine them.’’

That was backed up by a post by Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican, who said he will be filing a complaint against Ortiz for violating ethical rules that govern the conduct of lawmakers.

β€œShe should be expelled from the Arizona Legislature,’’ he wrote.

But the issue is now larger than just Ortiz as others are saying the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement are causing fear and alarm in their communities. And Ortiz said it’s not limited to those who are not here legally.

β€œI find it important to let people know that, especially because, right now, the Trump administration is going after people regardless of status,’’ Ortiz said, targeting even U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. β€œSo people have an interest in protecting themselves.’’

Hobbs acknowledged she has a bit of anxiety concerns about such activities. And the governor told Capitol Media Services she wouldn’t do that herself.

β€œI am concerned about the safety of law enforcement officers,’’ she said. β€œAnd I am concerned that, in conducting activities, that calling the public to congregate could interfere with their jobs and with their safety.’’

Sen. Analise Ortiz has posted activity of ICE agents on social media drawing criticism from some Republican lawmakers. That includes Senate President Warren Petersen, who has asked the U.S. Attorney for Arizona to investigate whether posts by Ortiz violate federal law.

But illegal?

β€œI don’t think people should be prosecuted for things that they post online,’’ she said.

What appears to have caused the dust-up is that Ortiz was sharing a post from someone else that alerted people that ICE was outside an elementary school.

β€œSo they are targeting school kids and, potentially, ripping their parents away from them in the middle of a school day,’’ she said.

β€œSo I find it important to let people know that, especially because, right now, the Trump administration is going after people regardless of status,’’ Ortiz said, targeting even U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. β€œSo people have an interest in protecting themselves.’’

And the senator said she considers sharing such information no different than when she uses her social media to point out other things of interest to people in her community, like food banks.

But what happened this time, Ortiz said, is that LibsOfTiktok, a site that posts conservative viewpoints, posted that Ortiz β€œis actively impeding and doxxing ICE by posting their live locations on Instagram.’’

β€œYep,’’ Ortiz responded to the account. β€œWhen ICE is around, I will alert my community to stay out of the area, and I’m not f****** scared of you nor Trump’s masked goons.’’

Ortiz told Capitol Media Services, nothing she has done β€” or is doing β€” is illegal.

β€œNo personal information about the agent was shared at all,’’ Ortiz said.

β€œIt is absolutely ridiculous to make a claim that this constitutes as doxxing or putting them in danger,’’ she said. β€œThey were engaged in public activity in a publicly accessible area.’’

And Ortiz said there’s legal precedent for her ability to do that.

β€œIt’s no different than using the Waze app to alert someone that there’s a speed trap down the highway,’’ she said. That app, available on cell phones, provides not only traffic directions but allows users to report where they have seen police officers using radar.

β€œI feel fully confident in the fact that I was sharing constitutionally protected information that is public information,’’ Ortiz said. β€œAnd I have a First Amendment right to express that.’’

She also took a swat at Petersen for filing the complaint, pointing out that he is a lawyer and is running to be the Republican nominee for attorney general.

β€œHe doesn’t understand the law,’’ Ortiz said. β€œHe’s making it clear that he will use his political power to escalate unwarranted political attacks on opponents.’’

Petersen did not respond to repeated requests to comment.

Hoffman, for his part, said Wednesday the question of whether posting the location of ICE activity is β€œa matter for the justice system to determine.’’ But he said none of that affects the complaint he is crafting against Ortiz.

β€œIt is without a doubt unethical, unprofessional and a clear violation of her oath of office for Ortiz to be undermining law enforcement activity,’’ Hoffman said. But Hoffman never directly answered a question about whether notifying others of the presence of ICE actually undermines law enforcement, instead responding with a list of what he said are β€œcriminal illegal aliens’’ who he said the Democrats are attempting to harbor.

Ortiz, however, said none of that relates to what she is posting.

β€œNo personal information about the agent was shared at all,’’ Ortiz said.

Hobbs, for her part, is taking a more nuanced approach to the whole issue.

β€œLook, I understand her concerns,’’ the governor said of Ortiz.

β€œAnd I’m not going to police her social media or what she posts or anyone else,’’ she continued.

Hobbs went on to say such posts and current political climate can raise tensions on the ground, citing confrontations between protesters and law enforcement in Los Angeles.

But the bottom line, Hobbs said, is she does not believe such activities are illegal.

And Ortiz, for her part, made it clear she doesn’t intend to back down in the face of Petersen’s comments.

β€œI will not be intimidated,’’ she wrote in her Instagram account.

β€œI will alert our community to avoid the area when Trump’s masked thugs terrorize us all, regardless of citizenship,’’ Ortiz wrote, saying the president doesn’t respect laws or the Constitution. β€œMy duty is to keep people safe from his unconstitutional and authoritarian actions.’’

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bluesky, and Threads at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com.