PHOENIX, AZ — February 23, 2026 — A new survey of Arizona business leaders finds overwhelming concern about the economic consequences of a potential expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state. More than eight in ten Arizona business leaders (81.4%) say a surge in federal immigration enforcement activity would have a negative impact on Arizona’s economic activity.
Views across political affiliations show that more than eight in ten Independent business leaders (81.4%) and a majority of Republican business leaders (62.1%) expect expanded federal immigration enforcement to negatively affect Arizona’s economy.
“Business leaders across Arizona are raising serious concerns about the economic consequences of large-scale immigration enforcement operations,” said Adam Goodman, CEO of Goodmans and co-founder of Leadership Now Arizona. “What happened in Minneapolis — with widespread disruption and significant economic fallout — cannot happen here in Arizona.”
Minneapolis’ recent experience illustrates these concerns. Following a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation earlier this year, city officials estimated more than $200 million in economic losses in a single month, including up to $81 million in lost revenue for restaurants and small businesses, according to a preliminary city assessment.
As immigration detention and processing capacity expands in Arizona, Goodman added, “enforcement efforts must be grounded in public safety and focused on serious offenders, not broad deployments that create fear, disrupt workplaces, and destabilize local communities. Even as enforcement shifts toward more targeted approaches, uncertainty and disruption can still have rippling economic effects.”
John Fees, CEO of GradGuard and co-founder of Leadership Now Arizona, added, “This survey shows that concern about expanded immigration enforcement isn’t necessarily ideological—it’s economic. Leaders across industries and political affiliations are worried about major disruption, workforce stability, and Arizona’s long-term competitiveness. We stand ready to work with officials to keep Arizona safe, stable, and open for business.”
Research Method
This survey was conducted online by Leadership Now Arizona from February 8–17, 2026, among 145 Arizona-based business leaders, including CEOs, senior executives, business owners, and partners across a range of company sizes and sectors. Results reflect the views of respondents at the time of the survey.