On February 4, 2026, the AZGO posted an online video explaining a “Know Your Rights” website to address alleged misconduct in ICE contacts with “American citizens.” This website, according to Gov. Hobbs, was based upon the following:
“I share the fear and anger of many Arizonans, who over the past year, have seen far too many instances of federal agents denying us right to peaceful protest. In some instances, unlawfully detaining and arresting American citizens and, in horrific cases in Minnesota, shooting and killing two people.” Within the website it states, “The Office of Governor Katie Hobbs provides this information to help Arizonans understand their constitutional rights. All people have certain constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status.”
https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2026/02/governor-katie-hobbs-announces-know-your-rights-website-inform
On February 5, 2026, Judicial watched made a public records request the Arizona Governor’s Office (AZGO) for the following:
1. Any Arizona Governor’s Office (“AZGO”) documents, to include but not limited to invoices, costing sheets, budget line items, competitive bidding forms, contracts, receipts, and/or MOUs, indicating the cost of producing, posting, and/or maintaining the aforementioned “knowyourrights.az.gov” website and/or YouTube video.
2. Any AZGO communications regarding the aforementioned press release and/or “knowyourrights.az.gov” website
3. Any AZGO documents and/or reports indicating if/when residents of Arizona have been:
a. Denied the right to engage in peaceful protest by federal law enforcement
b. Unlawfully detained by federal law enforcement
c. Unlawfully arrested by federal law enforcement
d. Unlawfully shot and/or killed by federal law enforcement
4. Any AZGO communications regarding and/or documents indicating the number of arrests, criminal investigations, and/or convictions in Arizona by local and/or federal law enforcement involving unlawful/illegal aliens
5. Any AZGO documents and/or information (ex. legal resources, constitutional rights) provided to Arizonans if protestors come to their home and/or places of worship and engage in criminal conduct (ex. trespassing, disorderly conduct, criminal damage, assault, threats).
6. Any AZGO documents and/or information (ex. legal resources, constitutional rights) provided to Arizonans if they are victims of criminal conduct engaged in/perpetrated by unlawful/illegal aliens
7. Any AZGO documents and/or information (ex. legal resources) provided to Arizonans regarding their constitutionally protected rights to secure national borders and/or unimpeded access to federal law enforcement services
8. Any AZGO communications with/to/from:
a.Raquel Terán
b. Aliento Education Fund (Aliento)
c. Reyna Montoya
d. Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE)
e. Lena Avalos
f. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)
g. Proyecto Progreso
What Judicial Watch sought were documents showing:
a. the cost of the website,
b. communication regarding the website
c. verifiable documentation and/or reports of ICE violating the rights of American citizens – thus documentation validating the comments of the Governor
d. AZ crime stats of crimes committed by illegal aliens
e. AZGO efforts to assist American citizens from unlawful protests
f. AZGO efforts to assist American citizens who were the victims of crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens
g. the legal obligation (State and Federal) to assist federal law enforcement – in this case ICE and Border Patrol
On July 16, 2026 Judicial Watch sued the AZGO to compel compliance with the Arizona public records law.
On July 29, 2026, the AZGO stated that over 63000 responsive documents were too burdensome to review. Just over 1300 pages of documents were provided. What was sent is below and was deemed to be inadequate:
Of the 1300+ pages that were produced, approximately 40-50% of the production consist of duplicate or near-duplicate calendar artifacts rather than unique records.
1. Production appears targeted at Request 8 rather than records about the Know Your Rights website itself.
The documents are overwhelmingly:
· calendar invites
· meeting requests
· advocacy correspondence
· coalition planning
2. No apparent support for Governor’s factual allegations. No records which were specifically requested in Item 3 supporting the specific claims made in the press release regarding:
· unlawful federal arrests
· unlawful federal detentions
· denied protests
· federal shootings/killings
3. Two cost records (purchase orders – PO) produced. The production does not appear to contain anything else responsive to Item 1.
· These invoices were for translation services NOT website production costs
4. No Arizona crime-statistics materials. Item 4 sought communications regarding crimes involving illegal aliens. Nothing produced appears responsive.
Overall Conclusion
· RESPONSIVE to Request 8
· SOME responsive to Request 2
· NOTHING responsive to Requests 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
The Governor’s Office appears to have produced largely stakeholder and advocacy communications involving LUCHA, Aliento, Reyna Montoya, Lena Avalos, ACE, and related organizations, while producing no evidence addressing the substantive basis for the February 4, 2026 Know Your Rights announcement, the Governor’s factual assertions about federal law enforcement conduct, or the requested financial records.
On August 4, 2026, Judicial Watch requested the AZGO send an index along with a declaration that a thorough search was completed.
On August 17, 2026, the AZGO provided two additional documents and a declaration that a thorough and comprehensive search was conducted and relevant information was sent to Judicial Watch.
On September 1, 2026, a review of the two additional documents was significant.
Out of 63000 responsive documents that were “too burdensome” to review, 1300 were provided. Judicial Watch litigation prompted the release of 2 more documents. These revealed what Gov. Hobbs based her “Know Your Rights” ICE/law enforcement abuse prevention system on: a.) a request for a DHS contact from the New Mexico Navajo Nation and b.) 3 pages from the Kino Border Initiative (501.c.3) containing 11 unverified anecdotes. This is what was provided to verify what was utilized to establish taxpayer funded policies and initiatives. Hobbs stated, “I share the fear and anger of many Arizonans, who over the past year, have seen far too many instances of federal agents denying us right to peaceful protest. In some instances, unlawfully detaining and arresting American citizens and, in horrific cases in Minnesota, shooting and killing two people.”
Hobbs’ Know Your Rights program is based on:
· No sworn testimony.
· No identified witnesses.
· No “American citizens”
· No full names.
· No birth dates.
· No case numbers.
· No official reports of criminal conduct by federal agents
· No detention records.
· No dates tied to most incidents.
· No locations tied to most incidents.
· No opportunity to cross-examine the declarants.
· Significant hearsay and, in some places, multiple layers of hearsay.
The AZGO did not provide any authenticated ICE records, detention logs, court files, medical records, body-camera footage, sworn declarations, depositions, or direct witness testimony in either of these documents. A non-profit anecdotal missive and a New Mexico ask for an ICE contact is what Hobbs calls “…seen far too many instances…” and basing the use of taxpayer money for her open-borders political agenda.
According to Mark Spencer, JW Southwest Projects Coordinator, “The Hobbs’ open-border, sanctuary city political agenda is based upon unverifiable anecdotes – no reports, changed names, no statistics – and is paid for by Arizona taxpayers. Her priorities present as anti-ICE, pro-illegal alien.”
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