Apr. 5, 2008 07:18 PM


Arpaio and immigration

March 2006: Deputies make first arrests under controversial interpretation of state human-smuggling law.

July 14, 2006: Hundreds protest Sheriff Joe Arpaio's efforts to arrest illegal immigrants and charge them under state law.

Jan. 2007: Arpaio announces agreement with Department of Homeland Security giving deputies broad powers to enforce immigration laws. Alonzo Pena of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says agreement should be used to go after violent criminals.

Sept. 27: Deputies arrest nine people near a Cave Creek church that serves as a gathering place for day laborers.

October: Off-duty deputies are hired by M.D. Pruitt's Home Furnishings to patrol the area for day laborers. Advocates for the laborers begin picketing in protest, which in turn draws counterprotesters. A tense standoff follows.

Dec. 16: Arpaio reports arresting 29 people in a crackdown in the Aguila area. Of those, 26 are illegal, he says.

Jan. 1: With protesters still picketing Pruitt's, anti-illegal immigration counterprotesters move to the Macehualli Work Center. The work center is run by Salvador Reza, who organized the Pruitt's protests.

Jan. 5: Protesters at Pruitt's agree to leave. Arpaio orders deputies to continue patrolling the area around 34th Street and Thomas Road.

Jan. 18: Arpaio's posse patrols 16th to 40th streets between Indian School and McDowell roads, saying he had been contacted by business owners there. Four days later, he reports arresting 25 people, five of whom were said to be illegal immigrants.

March 21: Arpaio moves to 32nd Street and Thomas Road, saying unspecified business owners had written to him asking for help addressing crimes caused by illegal immigrants and day laborers. The sheriff reports arresting 55 people in 10 hours, two-thirds of whom are said to be illegal immigrants.

March 27: Arpaio "migrates north" to Bell Road and 25th Street, according to a news from his office. He says the community surrounding the Macehualli Work Center was "crying out" for him to come, although businesses in the area have a mixed reaction to his presence.

March 28: Arpaio's "migrating north" remark prompts Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon to denounce the sheriff's actions as racial profiling.

March 29: Arpaio announces the end of his Bell Road operation, having arrested 53 people. Just over half were in the country illegally, he said.

Thursday: Arpaio takes his posse into Guadalupe, saying he had been invited by several town leaders. Mayor Rebecca Jimenez says that Arpaio came under "false pretenses" and that Guadalupe does not support his tactics.

Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Republic research

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