deportation task force; appropriation

Plain English Breakdown

The appropriation amount is explicitly left blank ($__________________) in the provided official text, meaning funding has not been finalized in this version of the bill.

SB1444: Creates a Deportation Task Force and Appropriates Funds

This bill creates a new deportation task force run by an association of sheriffs that allows local police to work with federal agents on removing people who entered or stayed in the U.S. illegally if they have specific criminal connections, while setting aside money for this effort.

What This Bill Does

• Adds Section 11-1052 to state law regarding immigration enforcement.
• Requires an association of sheriffs to establish, staff, and run a deportation task force.
• Authorizes local police departments or sheriff's offices to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportations.
• Targets individuals who entered or remained in the United States illegally if they have been convicted, accused, detained on suspicion of committing a crime, or detained in connection with a criminal offense.
• Appropriates money from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish and administer the task force.

Who It Names or Affects

• An association of sheriffs responsible for running the new task force.
• Local police departments and county sheriff's offices in Arizona.
• People who entered or remained in the U.S. illegally and meet specific criminal criteria listed in the bill.
• The state general fund, which provides money for this program.

Terms To Know

Deportation task force

A group established by an association of sheriffs to coordinate with federal agents on removing people from the country who meet specific legal criteria.

Appropriation

Money set aside by the government for a specific purpose, in this case, running the task force.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact dollar amount to be spent is not listed because it appears as a blank line in the bill text.
• The bill does not specify which association of sheriffs will lead the effort or how many staff members it will have.
• No effective date for when this law starts is included in the source material.

Official Summary Text

SB1444 - deportation task force; appropriation

Current Bill Text

SB1444 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
deportation task force; appropriation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1444

Introduced by

Senators
Rogers: Finchem, Payne

AN
ACT

amending title 11, chapter 7, article 8,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 11-1052; appropriating
monies; relating to immigration enforcement.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 11, chapter 7, article 8,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 11-1052, to read:

START_STATUTE
11-1052.

Deportation task force; enforcement; definition

A. An association of sheriffs shall
establish, staff and administer the deportation task force.� The deportation
task force shall Authorize a law enforcement agency to coordinate with THE
UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT for the deportation of a
person who has entered or remained in the United States illegally and who has
done any of the following:

1. Been convicted of committing a
criminal offense.

2. Been alleged to have committed a
criminal offense.

3. Been detained by a law enforcement
agency based on the suspicion that the person has committed a criminal offense.

4. Been detained by a law enforcement
agency in connection with the commission of a criminal offense.

B. For the purpose of this section,
"Law enforcement agency" means:

1. The police department of any
municipality.

2. A county sheriff's office.

END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Appropriation; deportation task force;
exemption

A. The sum of
$__________________ is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year
2026-2027 to the deportation task force for establishing and administering the
deportation task force established pursuant to section 11-1052, Arizona
Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

B. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section
35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.