New immigration boss in Arizona plans to focus on illegal hirings




Associated Press - March 20, 2008 8:14 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - The new leader of a federal immigration agency in Arizona says that a key element in his plans to confront the state's border woes is cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Matthew Allen, the new chief of investigations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona, says illegal immigrants would be less likely to come to the state if they knew employers wouldn't offer them jobs.

Allen says that's why it's important to focus on the root cause of much of America's illegal immigration - jobs offered to immigrants.

Allen previously oversaw such efforts while serving at the agency's headquarters in Washington.

He also investigated drug and immigrant smuggling groups as an agent in Nogales from 2000 to 2004.

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