Kolodin, Hoffman Question Hobbs’ Sincerity on Border Promise

Republicans in both chambers of Arizona’s legislature reacted with skepticism to border security promises from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. During her State of the State address, she vowed to curb violence and drug trafficking at the border, stating that “protecting Arizonans from the cartels” who seek to do them harm was a top priority for her 2025 agenda. However, in an exclusive statement to the Arizona Globe, State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-LD15) called her remarks “shapeshifting politics straight out of the Marxist playbook.”

“We’re old enough to remember the millions of taxpayer dollars she spent rolling out the red carpet for dangerous criminal illegal aliens during the Democrats’ border invasion,” Hoffman added. The Senator is referring to two different relief packages centered around humanitarian migrant services allocated by Hobbs to the tune of $55M in April and $47M in September of 2024. Hoffman wasn’t alone in his doubt of Hobbs’ border protection talk.

Rep. Alex Kolodin (R-3), who began his second term in office this week, exclusively told the Arizona Globe that Hobbs’ words weren’t “genuine.” He added that the Governor was the ultimate “say whatever it takes to get elected politician” and that voters should “elect a Republican who actually believes in securing our border”.

During her tenure as Governor, Hobbs vetoed several pieces of legislation passed by the legislature that would have slowed the pace of illegal immigration. Hobbs called those bills “anti-immigrant” and urged Republicans to pass “bipartisan” legislation, although it’s unclear exactly what such legislation would look like.

Hobbs set a veto record during her first legislative session, nixing 63 bills. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) likened Hobbs’ rhetoric on border security to “dancing a dance.” He added that he’d take a “wait-and-see” approach to see how the Governor handles the planned deportations promised by President Trump and his Border Czar, Tom Homan.

“Deportations are going to occur. How is she going to handle that, that’s what we’re watching for,” Petersen added.

Arizona is one of several border states in need of a remedy to years of unchecked illegal immigration. Over the past few years, millions of illegal immigrants entered the country through the Lukeville, Arizona border crossing alone, thanks to a breach in the wall created by human smugglers.

Senator Hoffman, who leads the legislature’s most conservative voting bloc, the Arizona Freedom Caucus, agrees that deportations are the first step to solving the state’s immigration crisis.

“Let me be exceedingly clear: Trump doesn’t need your help, and Republicans don’t need your help,” Hoffman told Hobbs and the Democrats. “The adults are back in charge, and we’re going to clean up your mess.”