Thread: More Arizona Deputies Enforcing Immigration Laws

More Arizona Deputies Enforcing Immigration Laws

Posted: April 7, 2008 08:27 AM PDT


Posted By: Karla Ronquillo, KOLD News 13 Producer

Law enforcement agencies from three more Arizona counties become the latest to have officers trained to enforce immigration law. Personnel from Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties recently completed a four week training program administered by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Officers learned immigration law, civil rights, and intercultural relations.

The addition of these trained officers adds to ICE's efforts to target illegal immigration. The program helps deputies identify criminial aliens and begin the removal process if necessary.

There are nearly 50 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. that have trainied and certified officers to enforce immigration law. These officers have identifyed more than 48,000 aliens with possible immigration violations since the beginning of 2006.

http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s=8128567

Pinal deputies join battle against illegal immigration

by Astrid Galvan - Apr. 7, 2008 11:59 AM
The Arizona Republic

Five Pinal County Sheriff's deputies can now enforce federal immigration laws after completing a four-week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Academy.

The deputies celebrated with a graduation ceremony on Friday morning that included officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Pima and Yavapai County Sheriff's offices.

Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez said the training was one of several steps taken in the battle against illegal immigration.

"Many, many years ago it used to be that aliens used to come across the border to find work," Vasquez said. "It's more than that now. What we're getting from across the border and through Pinal County are drug smugglers, human smugglers."

Although the five deputies can now enforce laws previously restricted to ICE officials, Vasquez said there are no plans to conduct any sweeps or raids similar to those by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Vasquez said Pinal County residents are more worried about violent crime and drug smuggling than illegal immigration, adding that many illegal immigrants don't stay in Pinal County.

"What the vast majority are doing is coming through Pinal County to get to Maricopa County, so my goal is to put a stop to that," he said.

An additional 23 law enforcement officers Valley wide graduated from the course, which agencies must request in order to participate.

Matthew Allen, special agent in charge, said it can take months for ICE to asses and determine whether a law enforcement agency should receive training.

Vasquez said it took six months to get his deputies into the training.

At least 720 law enforcement officers nationally, including about 200 in Arizona, have received this training, which began in 2002.

Vasquez said it's important deputies enforce immigration laws without racial profiling, which was part of the training.

He hopes to get more deputies trained once the resources are available.

For now, his office is negotiating with the Department of Homeland Security to bring a border enforcement and security task force to the county.

"The whole idea is we're going to do what can to enforce immigration laws the right way," he said. "Our number one goal is to protect the constitution of the United States and protect the civil rights of every American and those who are here legally," he said.
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"For now, his office is negotiating with the Department of Homeland Security to bring a border enforcement and security task force to the county."

So now we have to create MORE government programs. Wouldn't it have been easier and cheaper to just build the darn fence?

Sorry, I don't understand why ICE training is needed for local law enforcement agenices to ask a person if he has a government issued ID or drivers license. Police officers do this dozens of times on a daily basis, and if it is determined this person is in the country illegally, that person should be detained and ICE officials contacted.

We should be making it easier to apprehend these illegals, not more difficult.