Arpaio will continue fight against illegals
by Jim Cross
(October 5th, 2009 @ 6:04am)
Comments:92

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has vowed not to change his policies on illegal immigration despite a change in federal rules.

A new deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement allows the sheriff to screen inmates booked into the county jail for immigration status, but does not extend to street enforcement.

"Nothing will change. Stay tuned," Arpaio told News/Talk 92-3 KTAR's Jay Lawrence Sunday night.

Arpaio said he will continue his policies, including crime suppression sweeps, under state human smuggling laws.

"I don't need the feds to do my crime suppression, to opt to arrest illegals," Arpaio said. "I can do it without the federal authority."

The sheriff said he plans another crime suppression sweep soon "to show Washington and everybody else, I'm not changing. I will not be intimidated by Congress, by alleged racial profiling investigations by the Justice Department."

He said he will continue to deliver illegal immigrants to ICE.

"I hope they accept them. If they don't, I'll bring them myself to the border."

Arpaio said the changes are pure politics by the Obama Administration and congressional Democrats. He said he believes they are using him as an example to end the policy that allows local law enforcement officers to arrest illegal immigrants.


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