Thread: AZ-Dozens arrested as Arpaio begins crime, immigration sweep

Dozens arrested as Arpaio begins crime, immigration sweep

Last Update: 3/18 11:35 pm

Arpaio launches 2-day crime, immigration sweep today


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PHOENIX -- The Maricopa County sheriff's office launched a two-day crime and immigration sweep throughout metropolitan Phoenix on Thursday, marking the 14th such patrol by Sheriff Joe Arpaio within the last two years.

Four hundred deputies and volunteer posse members were fanning out in communities in patrols that Arpaio said would target drug traffickers and the stash houses and vehicles used by immigrant smugglers.

"We feel very confident that maybe we can make some little dent in this problem," Arpaio said.

By late Thursday, deputies had arrested 54 people and seized four pounds of methamphetamines and 275 pounds of marijuana. Twenty-five of the arrested people were illegal immigrants.

During the sweeps, deputies flood an area of a city -- in some cases heavily Latino areas -- to seek out traffic violators and arrest other alleged lawbreakers. Five hundred and thirty illegal immigrants have been arrested in the sweeps since early 2008.

Critics say Arpaio's deputies have racially profiled Hispanics. The sheriff denies the allegation, saying deputies approach people only when they have probable cause to believe people had committed crimes.

Lydia Guzman, president of the Hispanic civil rights group Somos America, said she believes the latest sweep was an attempt by Arpaio to boost his popularity.

"The only way his numbers go up is if he pounds on his chest and says, 'I'm going after illegal immigrants,"' Guzman said.

According to Guzman, suppressions are underway near State Route 87 leading to Payson, Interstate 17 north of Loop 101 and county roads around Lake Pleasant.

Some Arpaio critics planned to drive around the area of the sweeps with video cameras to record exchanges between deputies and motorists.

Guzman tells ABC15 activists and observers have been in place since Wednesday night monitoring and documenting the stops.

For more than a year, the U.S. Justice Department has been investigating Arpaio's office for alleged discrimination and for unconstitutional searches and seizures. Although the federal agency won't provide any details on its probe, Arpaio said the inquiry is focusing on his immigration efforts.

The sweeps also are being targeted in a lawsuit filed by several Latinos who accuse deputies of racially profiling countless Hispanics.

Arpaio is known for pushing the boundaries for how local law enforcement agencies can confront illegal immigration and for his tough jail policies, including having inmates wear pink underwear and housing them in tents in the desert.

The sheriff rejected criticism that his latest sweep was aimed at raising his profile.
"I can boost my profile with pink underwear and tents. I sure don't need this. What am I -- running for president or something? This has nothing to do with politics," Arpaio said.

Arpaio's office lost its federal immigration arrest powers in October, when the U.S. government, which handles most of the nation's immigration enforcement, changed its rules for allowing local police to enforce more expansive federal immigration laws.

The sheriff began a sweep less than a day after losing those powers. He relied on state immigration laws to carry out his next two sweeps.

Since then, he has said local police agencies have the inherent power to enforce federal immigration law without getting approval from Washington.

He also has announced plans to train all 881 of his deputies to crack down on illegal immigration. So far, 200 deputies have been trained.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoen ... jsp7Q.cspx

"I can boost my profile with pink underwear and tents. I sure don't need this. What am I -- running for president or something? This has nothing to do with politics," Arpaio said.

Would you PLEASE run for President, pretty please? That would end the flow of illegals, put Americans back to work, and save our Country BILLIONS of dollars instead of the spend spend spend we are getting now!

You go, Joe!!!!!!

he has said local police agencies have the inherent power to enforce federal immigration law without getting approval from Washington.

Exactly! I've always believed the argument that "It's a Federal Responsibility" to be just plain old BS!