MCSO: 52 illegals arrested in 2 stops
Comments 16
Gary Grado, Tribune

July 29, 2009 - 4:56PM



Two traffic stops led the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to bust 52 suspected illegal immigrants Tuesday, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.

The first stop was a van with five illegal immigrants inside on Interstate 17 near New River Road.

The van’s driver led deputies to a west Phoenix home with four illegal immigrants inside, a handgun and business ledgers for human trafficking.

Eight more people were arrested at I-17 and Anthem Way during a traffic stop and deputies were able to find a drophouse associated with the suspects in the West Valley.

Deputies arrested 35 illegal immigrants at the home.

All of the arrests came on the same day a lawyer for the Sheriff’s Office wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano complaining that the federal government broke a promise that deputies could work under an existing agreement to enforce immigration law. DHS has forced local police agencies with the agreements to sign new, more restrictive ones within the next three months.

Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused to take 13 illegal immigrants during a crime sweep over the weekend targeting illegal immigrants

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/142311