Thread: Friction After Patrols in Phoenix Immigrant Area

Friction After Patrols in Phoenix Immigrant Area
By PAUL GIBLIN
Published: March 23, 2008

PHOENIX — Scores of sheriff’s deputies, assisted by civilian volunteers and shadowed by observers from immigration advocacy groups, conducted saturation patrols this weekend in neighborhoods where illegal immigrants live, work and worship.

The authorities said that the initial sweep, which began about sundown on Friday, led to the arrests of nine people who could not prove United States citizenship and four other people on unrelated charges like outstanding warrants.

Deputies initially stopped motorists on traffic violations and then asked them for identification.

The observers tried to ensure that people snared in the operation were treated properly by law enforcement personnel under the direction of the county’s hard-edged sheriff, Joe Arpaio.

“The guy is completely attacking an entire class of people based on their color,â€

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Sheriff's sweep results in 32 arrests
Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 22, 2008 11:03 AM

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office will continue its recent saturation efforts into next week after netting 32 arrests in Friday's sweep of an east Phoenix neighborhood.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said he will continue enforcement in an area near 25th Street and Bell Roadafter deploying 200 members of his civilian posse and deputies Friday near 36th Street and Thomas Road, where day laborers often congregate

Thirty-two people were arrested within five hours, including 22 suspected of being in the country illegally, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Four of the ten U.S. citizens arrested had warrants out, she said.

The sheriff conducted the sweep after business operators complained of laborers loitering, littering and committing thefts.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said on Thursday that he wanted Arpaio to work with the Phoenix Police Department instead of planning enforcement efforts inside the city without its knowledge.

Arpaio shot back that Phoenix police were well-aware of his "crime-suppression efforts" and that the department didn't have the manpower to commit to such an operation on its own.
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A day after a verbal sparring match between the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Sheriff Joe Arpaio deployed 200 members of his civilian posse and deputies to saturate an east Phoenix neighborhood where day laborers congregate.

Arpaio said the effort came as a result of business operators complaining to his office about laborers loitering, littering and committing petty thefts in an area near 36th Street and Thomas Road.

"We lock up murderers, we lock up everybody," Arpaio said. "We're here for crime suppression, and we're going to lock up everybody."

Gordon said on Thursday that he wanted Arpaio to work with the Phoenix Police Department instead of planning enforcement efforts inside the city without its knowledge.

Arpaio shot back that Phoenix police were well-aware of his "crime-suppression efforts" and that the department didn't have the manpower to commit to such an operation on its own.

Phoenix police learned about the Sheriff's Office's Good Friday operation because of its sheer magnitude, said Sgt. Joel Tranter, a department spokesman.

"It's not like we're not aware of it because it was highly publicized," Tranter said. "He has concurrent jurisdiction anywhere in the county, and the sheriff can apply resources as he sees fit."

As he has done in the past, Arpaio vowed that his critics won't deter his efforts to go after Valley residents who might be in the country illegally, whether that criticism comes from citizens or elected officials.

"I don't know why he's taking shots at me," Arpaio said about Gordon on Thursday. "Well, I do know why, because he doesn't like me enforcing the illegal immigrants. He doesn't have 200 people that he could send to do a crime-suppression program. He ought to be thanking me."

At a press conference on Friday before the saturation effort began, the Sheriff's Office brought out two area business owners who raised the issue to Arpaio.

Both mentioned crimes like loitering, trespassing and littering as among their biggest concerns with day laborers in the area.

With that, dozens of deputies and detectives joined hundreds of Sheriff's Posse members in a saturation patrol with an emphasis on enforcing traffic violations.

Shortly after 5 p.m., a Sheriff's detective pulled over one sedan for stopping in the middle of the street and for having a broken brake light.

After questioning, both men admitted they were in the country illegally and were sent on their way to a processing center to await deportation.

By 7:30 p.m., the efforts had netted 13 arrests, including nine people suspected of being in the country illegally and four U.S. residents with outstanding warrants or other legal issues.

To Sharon Zapata, a Phoenix resident who has observed a dozen similar patrols, the effort amounts to a waste of time and resources.

"I'm concerned that taxpayer money is being wasted on this just to give some notoriety and free publicity to the sheriff," Zapata said.

But a handful of counterprotesters came to voice their support for Arpaio's efforts.

Ruth Davis made the trek from Sun City West to east Phoenix to wave American flags and express her displeasure with the state's illegal-immigrant population.

Efforts like Friday's turn traffic violations into deportable offenses, which makes sense, Davis, 77 said.

"It certainly doesn't take the serious (criminals) off the streets, but you've got to start somewhere," Davis said.

Arpaio's office initiated similar sweeps last year at a furniture store near 36th Street and Thomas Road.

Staff reporter Casey Newton contributed to this story.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ep-ON.html

Immigrant advocates who tried to conduct their own news conference just outside the command center were interrupted by four people on Harley-Davidson motorcycles adorned with American flags. The cyclists stopped their bikes and revved their engines, making conversation impossible.

LOL! I love it!

Immigrant advocates who tried to conduct their own news conference just outside the command center were interrupted by four people on Harley-Davidson motorcycles adorned with American flags. The cyclists stopped their bikes and revved their engines, making conversation impossible.

Those motorcyclists are awesome. Way to go Freedom Riders!!!

[quote]“We’re getting people so wound up. This is a tinderbox waiting for a light, and he is inciting it, and that’s what’s outrageous about this.â€

Way to go sheriff Joe!! These people are just looking for something to go after Joe for. I don't think they can intimidate him though.

Ms. Schwartz approached him as he sat in his vehicle and learned that his name was Israel Salenas and that he, too, was an illegal immigrant. Before the deputies instructed her to step away, she advised Mr. Salenas to refuse to answer any questions regarding his residency status.

Shouldn't Ms. Schwartz have been thrown in jail for interfering with law enforcement!!

Get over it Schwartz we want our laws enforced!! got it!!

IF the mayor had handled the problems with the loitering at the furniture store, this may not be happening. Pruit's owner complained about the day laborers loitering and the illegal alien activists tried to shut his business down, using harassment and intimidation tactics. The mayor allowed this situation to fester. Citizens are fed up.

Businesses are STILL complaining, Gordon's not doing his job, so Sheriff Joe is doing it for him. Go Sheriff Joe!!!

I can't believe these OBL's were looking over the shoulder of police and speaking to people the cops had pulled over. I would think they should have been arrested for interfering with an investigation or something like that.

GO JOE!

SHERIFF JOE is the man. He knows how to get things done and get them done the RIGHT way. He does HIS JOB. I am and will back him up every time.