Arpaio, deputies turn in ICE badges
by Sandra Haros/News-Talk 92.3 KTAR (October 22nd, 2009 @ 7:42pm)
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PHOENIX - Sheriff's deputies stand down - they are no longer Federal Immigration Agents. Thursday Sheriff Joe Arpaio called in his deputies to turn in their badges.

"We play by the rules, we've always played by the rules, and we'll continue to play by the rules," Arpaio said.

One-by-one deputies dropped a small ID-wallet into a bowl. Inside the brown wallet was a badge that gave deputies Federal Authority to arrest illegal immigrants.

M.C.S.O. Lieutenant Joe Sousa is frustrated over accusations of racial profiling and ticked off with the federal government for their decision to take away deputies' ICE-agent status.

"We're actually helping the federal government, we're helping those guys out," Sousa said. "We're going into the computer systems, we're doing all that work, we're taking care of it.

"I think it's a step backwards for the feds, I don't think it's a step backwards for us."

But, not everyone is disappointed in the federal government's decision. Across the street from where deputies were handing over their ICE badges, a small group of Latino leaders were holding up signs and praising the decision made by the Feds.

"The Department of Homeland Security has effectively said that the Sheriff has indeed violated and abused the 287-G agreement," said Lydia Guzmas with Somos America. "So with everything we've been doing, this is a small victory."

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