Rep. Greg Stanton, a U.S. Congressman who won reelection in both 2022 and 2024 against Kelly Cooper, addressed concerns on his social media account about immigration enforcement and recent presidential actions regarding Venezuela.
On January 3, 2026, Stanton posted that his office was monitoring potential changes to immigration enforcement in Phoenix. He stated: “My office is aware of reports that ICE may ramp up enforcement in Phoenix.
I’m in touch with Mayor Gallego and our federal and local partners. ICE should prioritize violent criminals and drug traffickers, as Trump committed to during his campaign. ICE should not be engaging in” (January 3, 2026).
Later the same day, Stanton commented on developments related to Venezuela’s leadership and U.S. military involvement: “Maduro’s illegitimate presidency shattered Venezuela and ran its economy into the ground.
But the U.S. Constitution and federal law make clear: presidents must have authorization from Congress for war or acts of war.
The President’s actions are not only illegal, but they also” (January 3, 2026).
In a subsequent post that evening, Stanton reiterated his concerns about presidential authority regarding the use of force abroad: “Maduro was not a legitimate president of Venezuela. It’s a good thing he’s gone. But it matters how we go about this. Our Constitution and the War Powers Act require the president to come before Congress and get authorization to use force. President Trump has not done that.” (January 3, 2026).
Stanton’s remarks reflect ongoing debate over executive power in foreign affairs as outlined by the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act—legislation requiring congressional approval for significant military action.
Greg Stanton represents Arizona in Congress after securing victories against Kelly Cooper in both the 2022 election with 56% of the vote versus Cooper’s 43.1%, and again in 2024 with a margin of 52.7% to Cooper’s 45.5%.
