TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — KGUN 9 is following up after reporting how Southside neighbors jumped into action when they believed immigration officers were posing as Tucson Electric Power workers.
ORIGINAL STORY |Southside neighbors confront TEP impersonators, suspected immigration enforcement officers
Now, some Arizona lawmakers in Tucson are denouncing what they're calling underhanded and deceitful tactics.
An HSI spokesperson confirmed there's an ongoing investigation, but declined to comment after KGUN 9 asked if agents are posing as TEP workers.
“That was the first thing he told me," confirmed Christine Cariño, following up with KGUN 9 Monday. "He told me that they were out here conducting some estimates for TEP and that if I knew my neighborhood, if I could, you know, guide them to kind of go to where the free estimate was."
Carino was just one of the neighbors KGUN 9 spoke to who said the men were presenting themselves as TEP. She said one of the men eventually confirmed to her that he was an immigration enforcement officer.
The situation led Arizona House Democrats to share the following message:
"Gaining access to homes without a warrant by taking advantage of the trust people place in service providers like utility companies is inappropriate, unnecessary and stokes communitywide fear. This type of deceit makes our communities less safe. It can be no coincidence that since Donald Trump tripled his demanded quota for arrests to 3,000 people a day that his agents are now donning disguises, lying and obliterating ethical lines and community trust, along with due process. We urge communities to stay vigilant, ask service providers to show their identification, and know your constitutional rights."
TEP has released the following statement related to potential misrepresentation of its employees:
Tucson Electric Power objects to any misrepresentation by anyone who falsely claims to be a TEP employee or representative. We have advised customers to look for the TEP logo on our employees’ clothing, safety equipment and vehicle. Our employees also are trained to produce their company identification badge for inspection by anyone seeking to confirm their employment or affiliation.
Any misrepresentation can create problems for TEP workers who do sometimes need access to private property to read meters, to locate and mark underground electrical facilities, to maintain or replace facilities, or for other reasons related to our service.
In response to media reports, TEP has contacted Homeland Security Investigations to request that its agents not impersonate TEP workers. TEP does not know if this activity occurred but has made clear that it is unauthorized.
WATCH RELATED | Is it legal for ICE agents to pretend to be utility workers?
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Reyna Preciado is a reporter for KGUN 9, she joined the KGUN 9 team in July of 2022 after graduating Arizona State University. Share your story ideas with Reyna by emailing reyna.preciado@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, or Twitter.
