Phoenix New Times: Ansari virtual town hall on dealing with ICE draws 14,000 people

President Donald Trump has been back in the White House for 10 days. But for Phoenix immigration lawyer Salvador Macias, it feels like it’s been six months.

With promises of mass deportations, rumors of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and a flurry of executive orders — which may be unconstitutional — Trump has struck fear into immigrant communities in Arizona and beyond. As a result, Macias, an attorney at Nuñez Law Firm, has received a lot of worried calls.

Wednesday night, though, Macias addressed a much bigger audience. On a tele-town hall hosted by freshman Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Macias delivered guidance and reassurance to a listening audience of 14,000 people. Macias was joined by Josh Nuñez, the founding attorney of Nuñez Law Firm, and Jose Vaquera, the chief operating officer of social services nonprofit Friendly House.

“I am immensely grateful to Nuñez Law Firm and Friendly House for their insights,” Ansari said in a statement to Phoenix New Times. “Arizonans have constitutional rights regardless of their immigration status.”

Macias told New Times that he was expecting an audience of only 6,000 or so people, which “is already a huge number.” The high turnout showed “the population in general is very concerned, whether they are immigrants themselves, allies or just regular constituents,” Macias said.

Ansari’s influence also likely played a role in more than doubling the turnout. The representative has been on the job mere weeks but has already fashioned herself as a progressive opponent of Trump and his MAGA immigration policies. Ansari skipped Trump’s inauguration to volunteer at Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in Phoenix.

Read more on Phoenix New Times

en_USEnglish

Donate

Yassamin will never put big funders ahead of working families. Help fuel our campaign with a contribution or volunteer your time.

Get Involved