Saturday, July 25, 2009, 6:09pm MST
Arpaio, ICE at odds over changes to immigration enforcement by Mike Sunnicks

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is batting with the federal government over a change in immigration law enforcement polices. Arpaio said MCSO had to release three illegal immigrants arrested during a recent crime sweep in Mesa and the East Valley because of new directives by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Arpaio's officers arrested 48 people during the sweep, but the Sheriff said three of them who turned out to be undocumented workers, were released because of new ICE polices that say not to process some illegals without criminal records.

Arpaio said he was told by ICE the new policy would not go into effect for a couple of months, but according the the sheriff, it appears the change already could be in affect.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said earlier this month that ICE would revise immigration pacts with local police that allow officers to arrest and process illegal immigrants. Napoltiano and the Barack Obama adminstration want immigration raids conducted by local police to focus on serious criminals rather than rounding up illegal aliens.

Arpaio said the new ICE policies will weaken enforcement efforts, including his raids of businesses suspected of employing undocumented workers. DHS told the East Valley Tribune newspaper that it was the MCSO that decided to release the three and not the federal agency. The Sheriff disagrees.


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