The legal battle between the Pinal County Board of Supervisors and County Attorney Brad Miller over a controversial immigration enforcement agreement has shifted to Maricopa County Superior Court, following a judge’s order granting Miller’s request for a change of venue. The dispute centers on Miller’s 287(g) agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allows designated county investigators to enforce federal immigration law.
The Board of Supervisors initiated a lawsuit on January 30, 2026, seeking to void or enjoin the agreement, arguing that Miller lacked the authority to enter into such an agreement without their approval. The supervisors contend that authority over these agreements traditionally rests with the county sheriff. Miller, however, maintains that his elected position as County Attorney grants him the authority to act on law enforcement matters. He stated in a letter to the Board’s outside counsel on January 27, 2026, that he had “no intention of terminating the agreement with the Department of Homeland Security.”
A temporary restraining order was previously issued blocking Miller’s office from enforcing the 287(g) task force agreement, with an initial hearing scheduled for February 25, 2026. On February 20, 2026, the Pinal County Superior Court granted Miller’s motion for a change of venue, determining that Maricopa County Superior Court was “the most convenient and least objectionable county” for the case. The Board had requested the case be moved to Pima County, a request the court rejected.
The origins of the dispute trace back to January 31, 2026, when the Pinal County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to pursue legal action against Miller following his signing of the 287(g) agreement. A legal opinion issued to the Board on January 21, 2026, declared the agreement void. Prior to the lawsuit, the Board had also referred Miller to the Arizona Attorney General on February 6, 2026.
According to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, Judge Ponce has scheduled a status conference for Wednesday, March 4th, at 8:30 a.m. In Maricopa County Superior Court. Miller’s office released a statement following the venue change, noting the court’s rejection of the Board’s request to transfer the case to Pima County.
