How federal immigration law and Arizona's Legal Arizona Workers Act (A.R.S. §23-212) shape life for Phoenix metro immigrants
By Sarah Chen · Updated June 26, 2026
Arizona sits roughly 180 miles from the U.S.–Mexico border, and the Phoenix metro is home to one of the largest immigrant communities in the Southwest. For families across Maricopa County — from Maryvale and South Phoenix to Mesa, Glendale, and Avondale — immigration questions are part of everyday life: renewing DACA, helping a relative respond to a Notice to Appear, navigating a workplace E-Verify check, or finding a lawyer after a loved one is detained. This guide explains how immigration law actually works in Arizona, which courts and agencies handle which decisions, and where the state's own laws come into play.
The single most important thing to understand is the division of authority. Immigration is, with narrow exceptions, federal law. Whether someone can stay in the United States, qualify for DACA, obtain a green card, or be removed is decided under the Immigration and Nationality Act by federal agencies and federal immigration judges — not by the Maricopa County Superior Court. Arizona state law enters mainly at the edges, especially in employment, where the Legal Arizona Workers Act (A.R.S. §23-212) governs how employers verify who they hire.
When the federal government seeks to deport someone, the case is heard in immigration court, run by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within the U.S. Department of Justice. Arizona's primary venue is the Phoenix Immigration Court, which handles cases for much of the state, including detained matters connected to facilities in the region. These are civil proceedings, not criminal trials, and they are entirely separate from anything that happens at the Maricopa County Superior Court downtown.
A removal case usually begins with a Notice to Appear (NTA), the charging document that lists the government's allegations and the legal grounds for removal. From there, a respondent typically attends a master calendar hearing, where the judge confirms the charges and schedules next steps, followed later by an individual (merits) hearing where the actual evidence and arguments are presented.
Even when removal is charged, several forms of relief may be available depending on the facts: asylum or withholding of removal for those who fear persecution, cancellation of removal for certain long-term residents, adjustment of status for those with a qualifying family petition, or relief tied to being a victim of crime (U visa) or trafficking (T visa). Each has strict eligibility rules and deadlines — asylum, for example, generally must be filed within one year of arrival — which is why early legal screening matters so much. Many of these claims are won or lost on documentation gathered long before the merits hearing.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) remains one of the most common immigration issues in the Phoenix metro, where tens of thousands of "Dreamers" have built careers, attended Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges, and started families. DACA is a federal program administered by USCIS; it provides temporary protection from removal and work authorization in two-year increments, but it is not a path to permanent residency on its own.
The program has spent years in litigation, and its rules have shifted with each court ruling. As a practical matter in 2026, the landscape has generally looked like this:
For anyone weighing whether to apply or renew, the safest move is to consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit. Notario fraud — non-lawyers posing as legal advisors — is a persistent problem in immigrant communities, and a botched filing can do lasting damage. A qualified Arizona immigration attorney can confirm eligibility, flag any criminal history that could create risk, and make sure the application is complete before it is submitted.
Where Arizona does have its own immigration-related law is the workplace. The Legal Arizona Workers Act, codified at A.R.S. §23-212, makes it unlawful for an Arizona employer to knowingly employ an unauthorized worker. The statute is notable because the penalties fall on the business: a court can order the suspension of an employer's business licenses for a first violation and permanent revocation for a knowing second violation within the same location — a consequence sometimes called Arizona's "business death penalty."
Just as importantly, the law requires Arizona employers to verify the work eligibility of new hires through the federal E-Verify system, which checks an employee's information against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security records. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the core of the Legal Arizona Workers Act in Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting (2011), confirming that states may impose licensing-based sanctions and mandate E-Verify.
| Who it targets | What the law does |
|---|---|
| Employers | Penalizes knowingly hiring unauthorized workers; can suspend or revoke business licenses (A.R.S. §23-212) |
| New hires | Must be run through federal E-Verify by Arizona employers |
| Workers | The statute sanctions employers, not employees — but it shapes who can be hired across the metro |
The practical effect for workers is that an expired or missing work authorization can quickly cost a job, even when no one has done anything wrong, simply because the employer is legally obligated to verify status. That is one more reason DACA recipients and others with time-limited work permits watch their renewal calendars so closely.
Detention is the moment families most often need help fast. If a relative is taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Phoenix area, a few steps make a real difference:
Remember that a detained person generally retains the right to a hearing before a judge at the Phoenix Immigration Court and the right to hire counsel. Acting in the first days — before a removal order is entered — preserves the most options.
Several types of help exist beyond private attorneys. DOJ-accredited nonprofit organizations and legal aid clinics in Maricopa County provide low-cost or free representation in many immigration matters, and consulates — including the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix and others serving Central American communities — offer document services, identification, and referrals. Community organizations along the I-10 and I-17 corridors regularly host know-your-rights workshops. For any matter that could affect status, though, a one-on-one consultation with a licensed attorney is the most reliable starting point, because immigration outcomes hinge on the specific facts of each case.
Our directory connects you with experienced Arizona attorneys across the Phoenix metro.
Find an AttorneyThis article is general information about immigration and Arizona law, not legal advice. Immigration rules — especially around DACA and enforcement — change frequently and individual cases vary. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative about your specific situation.