Thread: Arpaio bars jailed illegals from work release

January 11, 2008
Arpaio bars jailed illegals from work release
By Mark Flatten
Tribune


Illegal immigrants are no longer being let out of the county jail during the day to go to work under a policy detailed Thursday by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He implemented the policy in October but called a news conference Thursday to discuss it because of the current attention on the employer sanctions law.

Arpaio said he has halted work-release programs since it is illegal for businesses to employ those people in Arizona. It makes no sense to allow them out of custody, he said.

Work-release programs are still available to people in the country legally.

The sheriff also slammed front-line police and judges who do not ask the immigration status of people when they are cited for committing crimes and sentenced to jail terms.

The illegal immigrants affected by Arpaio's policy change tend to be those who were cited rather than arrested by police. The citation requires them to appear in front of a judge. Once convicted, the judge sentences the prisoners to jail with terms that can include eligibility for work-release.

Arpaio said those individuals typically are not identified as illegal immigrants until they show up at the jail to begin serving their sentences. Jail officials notify federal immigration officials and put immigration holds on those inmates, Arpaio said.

They are turned over to federal immigration agents for deportation when they finish their sentences, he said.

Generally, people in the programs are those convicted of nonviolent offenses like drunken driving or minor drug crimes, Arpaio said.

Since Arpaio instituted the new policy three months ago, about 160 inmates who otherwise would have been allowed to participate in a work-release program have had their eligibility blocked because of their immigration status, Arpaio said.

Even when a judge orders work-release, the sheriff has the authority to block eligibility when there is a federal immigration hold on the inmate, Arpaio said.

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Sheriff Joe - talking sense again.

A work release program for someone who can't legally work. Just when you thought you had heard it all.

Sheriff Joe just uses common sense. If your here illegally the law says you can't work.

I disagree,I think he should release them and follow them to work and arrest employer and pad lock whatever business it is.There can never be any time in a society when police,mayor,governor ,sheriff etc can pick and chose which laws they want to enforce.There is no equal treatment under the law if this happens .mayors,etc should be jailed for obstruction of justice if they tell law enforcement to not enforce any law.It is very dangerous,people are dead because illegals were not locked up and deported.you or me could next.

Since Arpaio instituted the new policy three months ago, about 160 inmates who otherwise would have been allowed to participate in a work-release program have had their eligibility blocked because of their immigration status, Arpaio said.

Even when a judge orders work-release, the sheriff has the authority to block eligibility when there is a federal immigration hold on the inmate, Arpaio said.

Arpaio could get done more in one week than Chertoff could get done in 10 years.

Maybe let them go and follow them - not sure yet how much authority he has to padlock a business - but I sure wish he had or they would give him that power.

But the fact is if they are let go to work, they will probably simply abscond.

That's why I find setting bond for an illegal so ludicrous.

Arpaio is awesome. He's thought the whole process through. However, I wonder if once his department identifies an illegal alien criminal, they follow-up by reporting and investigating the employers. Again, if an employer is identified, then there should be reports going to the state taxing authorities, the IRS, social security and the state department of labor, etc. There has to be comprehensive immigration enforcement. Employers don't like to have their personnel, tax records audited ....that would be enough to scare enough of the dishonest employers to think twice before keeping IA's as their employees.

Now I'm wondering about this new law.

Who will do the enforcing. Will it be a country enforcment, some kind of state agency enforcement, etc.?

I don't know the sheriff has the ability to go after the employers - it would be great if he did.

With the new employer sanctions law these businesses could lose their licenses.

Follow the illegals to their jobs, Joe!!! Shut down the criminal employers!!!

I like the idea - and Sheriff Joe may find a way.

I kinda like keeping them in jail - but if they give the Sheriff the authority to enforce this law - might be something to think about.

But once again, how can a judge order the work release of someone who can't legally work?

It's the playing with the laws that bother me.