Weekly Newsletter

August 30, 2026



Stopping Big Brother Surveillance

The government has no business building a digital map of where law-abiding Americans drive, work, worship, shop and live. That is why this week I cosponsored the FLOCK-OFF Act to stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to fund Flock cameras and similar automated surveillance systems.

These aren’t just ordinary cameras.  Automated license plate readers can record vehicles, extract license plate numbers and other identifying information, and transmit that information to remote databases for storage, analysis and sharing.  The technology can also incorporate biometric information such as facial images, fingerprints, voiceprints and other identifying characteristics.

That should concern every American. We should not allow the federal government—or federally funded local governments—to quietly build a massive surveillance network capable of tracking innocent Americans wherever they go. Having the technology to monitor people does not mean the government has the right to use it against them.

The FLOCK-OFF Act puts a stop to federal taxpayer funding for these systems and the contracts, subscriptions and databases that facilitate their use.  Existing federally funded systems would have to be removed or shut down within 180 days, and federal funds would be subject to repayment if recipients violate the prohibition.

Importantly, this legislation gets the balance right.  It does not prevent legitimate border-security operations.  Systems operated within one mile of our northern or southern borders for purposes such as stopping illegal entry, drug trafficking, human trafficking and human smuggling are specifically exempted.  Toll cameras used solely to collect tolls are also exempt.

We can secure the border and protect our communities without turning America into a surveillance state. The government works for the American people—not the other way around.  I will continue standing up against government overreach and defending the privacy, liberty and constitutional rights of every American.

New York Doubles Down on Sanctuary Policies

Speaking of border security, this week radical leftists in New York State officially doubled down on its sanctuary-state policies—and it should concern every American who cares about public safety and the rule of law.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s new law takes effect this week, prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from participating in congressionally authorized 287(g) agreements with ICE and preventing local facilities from holding individuals for federal immigration authorities.

As a congressman representing a border district, I have seen firsthand what happens when immigration laws are not enforced. Arizona is on the front lines of the border crisis. Our ranchers, law enforcement officers, families, and communities have dealt with the consequences of an unsecured border and a federal government that, for years, failed to do its most basic duty: enforce the law.

Now, instead of learning from the devastation caused by illegal immigration, New York Democrats are making it harder for federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement to work together.

That is backwards.

Our police officers and sheriffs should be able to cooperate with federal law enforcement when doing so protects their communities. A badge should not come with a political firewall. When federal, state, and local officers have information about a dangerous criminal, they should be able to share it—not be forced to look the other way because soft-on-crime Democrats want to score political points against President Trump and ICE.

What makes this even more troubling is that New York is not merely declaring itself a sanctuary state—it is now threatening local officials who refuse to go along with this lawless policy. More than a dozen New York sheriffs have already filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law, arguing that it improperly interferes with their ability to make public-safety decisions.

Arizona, like New York, has paid the price for an open-border mentality. New York politicians can call this “immigrant protection” all they want. I call it putting politics ahead of public safety and putting dangerous illegals ahead of law-abiding Americans.

Thankfully, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are working to restore order to our immigration system, deport dangerous criminals, and secure the border.  State and local governments should be helping—not putting up roadblocks.

Trump Is Right: American Students Come First

President Trump is standing up for Arizona students—and I stand with him.

The Trump administration announced this week that it is suing Arizona over Proposition 308, a state law that gives illegal aliens access to discounted in-state college tuition while American citizens from other states can be charged significantly more.

That is fundamentally unfair. Arizona taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize illegals while American students are treated as second-class citizens.

Arizona is a border state.  We don’t need lectures from the radical open-border crowd about the consequences of illegal immigration.  We see them every day.  For years, the Biden administration invited millions of lawbreakers into our country and then expected hardworking Americans to foot the bill.  President Trump was elected to end that insanity—and he is doing exactly that.

The Trump administration estimates that more than 3,600 illegals could qualify for in-state tuition in Arizona each year.  At Arizona State University alone, hundreds of illegal aliens received discounted tuition last year, representing an estimated $10.5 million in reduced tuition.

Think about that.  An American family can work, pay taxes, play by the rules and send their child to college—only to discover that someone who entered this country illegally can receive the same taxpayer-supported tuition rate.

That isn’t fairness. That’s putting illegal aliens ahead of Americans.

This lawsuit is about much more than college tuition.  It is about whether we still believe citizenship and lawful residency should mean something.  It is about whether the government has an obligation to put the interests of American citizens first. I believe it does.

I commend President Trump and his administration for challenging this policy and defending the constitutional rights and interests of American citizens.  America First should mean exactly what it says: American citizens first.

Arizona families shouldn’t have to compete with illegals for taxpayer-funded benefits. If you want the privileges of American citizenship, there is a legal process to become an American citizen.  Until then, you should not be given preferential access to benefits paid for by the very citizens whose laws you violated.

President Trump promised to restore law and order at our border and put Americans first. He is keeping that promise—and I will continue fighting alongside him.

GCU Expands Educational Opportunities in Arizona

I’m thrilled by Grand Canyon University’s plans announced this week to establish a new College of Law, which would become Arizona’s third American Bar Association-accredited law school. The proposed program will emphasize constitutional law, free-market principles, the rule of law, and a Christian worldview—values that can help prepare the next generation of attorneys to understand both the law and the principles that underpin our nation.

If approved by the appropriate state and national authorities, classes could begin as early as spring 2028. This is another exciting step in GCU’s continued growth and commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Arizona.

The university is already projecting record enrollment of approximately 141,000 students this year, including 24,000 students on campus, and recently launched its College of Construction and Industrial Technologies. Arizona’s continued growth requires a well-educated and skilled workforce, and I’m pleased to see institutions like GCU investing in the future of our state. 🎓

Tweet of the Week:

Photo of the Week:

📸 Michele and Rich Smith from Green Valley, AZ sent in this photo they describe as a stormy sky with an alien vibe.  I definitely can see that.  Amazing!  Thanks so much for sharing.

Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our "Photo of the Week?"   If so, send your best shots along with a brief description to Anthony.foti@mail.house.gov.  Remember to include your name and where you live. 

Gosar in the News and Other Must-Read Stories:

📰 AZ Family: Construction to start on massive two-year project to improve I-10 interchange near Buckeye

🗞 KJZZ: Politics Arizona leaders are encouraged by new Colorado River plan, but uneasy about its future

📰 The Christian Post: Grand Canyon University to open law school teaching biblical 'foundation for Western civilization'

🗞 AZ Daily Star: Opinion: Arizona led the education freedom movement. Governor Hobbs should not hold it back.

⚠ Warning!!  The Gosar Weekly Newsletter is meant for discerning readers with above-average intelligence.  We link to interesting stories.  We get stories a couple different ways: Google alerts, a third-party aggregator and sometimes readers send stuff.  We don’t vouch for every publication or every author.  If we link to a story, it is because of that story. The views expressed in any of the publications do not represent any promotion, endorsement or reflection of Congressman Gosar’s views.  While we try our best, we cannot guarantee every news organization spouting hatred, animosity or divisiveness will be filtered from appearing in the Gosar Weekly Newsletter.  We will endeavor to prevent that from happening by never linking to Fake News organizations including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Rolling Stone, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Mirror, Media Matters or the New Republic.