Phoenix Rising: An Immigration Victory

By Tom Fitton

FrontPageMagazine.com | 12/13/2007

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon underwent a change of heart last week on the issue of illegal immigration enforcement.

Facing a Judicial Watch investigation and potential lawsuit, Mayor Gordon reversed his position on the city’s Operations Order 1.4, which prohibits police officers from inquiring about the immigration status of individuals and from cooperating with federal immigration officials. (This policy is similar to the LAPD’s “Special Order 40,” which is the subject of a separate Judicial Watch lawsuit.) Mayor Gordon dramatically withdrew his support of the policy during a press conference held on December 3 and announced the formation of an illegal immigration expert panel to study the policy and to recommend changes.

“When [Operations Order 1.4] was written, it was right for local law enforcement and our community. But it was written in another time…” Mayor Gordon stated, suggesting the policy had become outdated. “…Obviously, that has changed….”

No, what has changed is the fact that for the last four months, Judicial Watch has been working with businesses (organized as the 36th and Thomas Business Coalition), community leaders and law enforcement to bring about a change in Phoenix’s status as an illegal alien "sanctuary city." Our investigative team, led by Chris Farrell, interviewed dozens of people, filed numerous public records act requests, and analyzed public documents as part of a comprehensive investigative and public education campaign.

There is no doubt these efforts forced the mayor’s hand.