WATCH: Congressional candidates debate ICE, other issues

By Chris Woodward
The Center Square

Candidates for Arizona’s congressional special election have a lot to say about issues affecting the country. That includes the issue of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids to detain immigrants who are in the nation illegally.

The special election is scheduled for Sept. 23. However, early voting begins Wednesday.

Speaking Tuesday evening in the 7th Congressional District debate hosted by the Arizona Media Association and the Local News Foundation, Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, said immigrants are contributing to their communities and the economy. A Democrat, Grijalva went on to say that what ICE is doing is inhumane and should be intolerable.

“I’m very frightened of what it’s going to look like next year when ICE’s budget is not double but 20 times what it is right now. Immigrants generate $71 billion in annual economic output, and in Arizona alone, it’s $704 million each year in state and local taxes in Arizona,” said Grijalva, who is running for the seat that became vacant when her father died in March after a battle with cancer.

If elected, Grijalva promised to “fight for comprehensive humane immigration reform with pathways to citizenship.”

Daniel Butierez, the Republican candidate, said he also believes the country needs immigration reform. However, Butierez did not blame ICE.

“The rules are not changing. The laws are being enforced,” said Butierez. “The ICE agents are doing what the law requires them to do, not what the administration is requiring them to do.”

Pointing to Raúl Grijalva, Butierez said the late representative tried to get something done in the way of immigration reform.

“It didn’t work, so I believe it’s time for different leadership, and a different direction, someone who has built things to go in there and change that,” said Butierez, a businessman who lost to Raúl Grijalva in November 2024. “That someone is me.”

Regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, Adelita Grijalva pushed during the debate for a two-state solution and the release of all hostages.

“A two-state solution ensures that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace with security and dignity, and we have to work to combat the rising Islamophobia and antisemitism in our country,” said Grijalva, a self-described mom, advocate, and public servant. “Trump promised he was going to bring peace, and that is actually one promise that I wish he would keep, because we have a significant role in the U.S. to combat and compel Israel to come to the table and create a two-state solution.”

Butierez said he stands with Israel.

“We’ve tried diplomacy, Israel has tried diplomacy, but as long as Hamas is in there controlling that country, we’re not getting anything accomplished,” said Butierez. “Israel takes the food in, Hamas takes the food from the people, and I am against war, but the only thing we can do there is to back Israel. You are not going to get Hamas to come to the table.”

Later, Butierez warned that “we are run by socialist programs collapsing on itself.” While he did not offer specifics, Butierez said the U.S. has too many programs in which the federal government is just giving money in Tucson.

“I heard someone say that Grijalva is a communist, which isn’t true. She’s progressive, and there’s a difference,” said Butierez. “Communism takes away a person’s property. Progressivism lets you keep the property, and they take away your profits.”

After being given time to respond, Grijalva said she believes people should pay their fair share of taxes.

“When you look at someone who is going to make $783,000 a year getting back $70,000 in taxes and someone who is making $23,000 getting back $10, that’s a difference,” said Grijalva. “The people that are at the top of the financial system, you’re making more money, you should pay your fair share.”

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program also got a few mentions. Grijalva said she absolutely does not support vouchers or providing families with public funds to cover the cost of a private school education or online instruction.

“I think it’s a systematic attack on public education, and when you look at the accountability, there isn’t any,” said Grijalva.

Butierez disagreed with Grijalva’s take on the issue.

“Public schools are indoctrinating their children, and they don’t want their children in those schools,” said Butierez. “Grijalva has been in there for 20 years and done a lot of things in the school that have led parents to want to pull their kid out, such as indoctrination.”

This, said Butierez, is among the reasons he is running for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District seat.

“I’m not running because I want to be a politician,” said Butierez. “I’m running because I love my city, I care about my state, and I care about the people that live within this state.”

Grijalva told the audience that “when” she is sent to Congress, she will fight to ensure that legislators hear their voice. Grijalva then made a promise to fight for environmental justice for all, Medicaid for All, an increase in the federal minimum wage, the Equality Act and the Ending Homelessness Act.

“I want to be your voice in Congress,” said Grijalva. “I will always remember who sent me to Congress.”