Arizona Republicans Aren't All Rolling Out Red Carpet for Donald Trump
— -- Donald Trump's campaign said he had to move his speech in Phoenix today from the Biltmore hotel to the city's convention center "due to the overwhelming response," but not everyone is happy the Republican presidential candidate is coming to Arizona.
Trump plans to deliver a speech on "illegal immigration and numerous other topics," according to his campaign. He will be speaking at an event organized by the Republican Party of Maricopa County along with Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has gained a reputation for his hard-line tactics to combat illegal immigration.
"The Republican Party of Maricopa County is pleased to bring yet another presidential contender to Arizona," county chairman Tyler Bowyer said in a statement posted on the local GOP group's website.
But not everyone in the border state will be rolling out the red carpet for Trump, whose controversial comments about Mexican immigrants have landed him in hot water with many of his fellow Republicans and cost him some of his most lucrative business relationships ever since he announced his presidential campaign last month.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake -- all Republicans -- have said they will not be attending Trump's event according to the Arizona Republic.
McCain recently told MSNBC that Trump's remarks are "offensive to not only Hispanic citizenry, but other citizenry."
Flake contacted the county party to express his disappointment.
"As an elected official and as a Republican, I'm not excited about this, to say the least. I don't think that [Trump's] views are reflective of the party, particularly in Arizona, a border state," Flake said in an interview with the Washington Post.
And while there are reports that the event could draw thousands, it will also be a magnet for protesters.
"We're very disgusted the presidential candidate is visiting Phoenix, and of all people holding hands with Sheriff Arpaio," Francisca Porchas, the spokeswoman for Puente Human Rights Movement, a migrant justice organization, told ABC News.
Porchas, a Mexican immigrant and resident of Phoenix, said she expects around 500 protesters from the group to show up.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, said that despite Trump's "ignorant" and "racist" comments, "the First Amendment grants the mogul the right to speak."
"I hope that during Mr. Trump's time here he is able to learn some things: That being born in another country does not make one a criminal, immigration has made our city and country stronger and in Phoenix our diversity is our strength," Stanton said in a statement.
State legislators have also been speaking out.
State Sen. Catherine Miranda, a Democrat and the chair of the Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus, called Trump a, "narcissistic egomaniac" in an interview with ABC News, adding that he, "is not welcome here."
Phoenix councilwoman Kate Gallego, also a Democrat, took to Twitter and Facebook to oppose Trump's Phoenix visit, writing "just because the city's lawyers say we can't turn him away doesn't mean he is welcome."
Among those expressing support for Trump is former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.
"I believe that Mr. Trump is kind of telling it like it really truly is," Brewer, a Republican, said in an interview earlier this week with CNN.
Brewer also said the "people of Arizona realize that we picked up the tab for the majority of the violence that comes across our border."
