Thread: AZ: ICE aims to coordinate immigration fight

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index. ... =STY-83902

ICE aims to coordinate immigration fight
By Gary Grado, Tribune
February 11, 2007
The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning on creating a statewide network of local police agencies to help federal agents enforce illegal immigration laws.

ICE special agent in charge Alonzo Peña said there are several local and state agencies that want to combat illegal immigration efforts. Efforts so far have been uncoordinated.

“We want to collectively build a shield in Arizona,” Peña said. “ICE wants to take a leadership role, but to be successful it has to be a partnership.”

The effort, in its infancy, is called Arizona Criminal Enforcement Strategy.

Peña said the idea is for ICE to work with different agencies at three areas in the state.

ICE would work with the U.S. Border Patrol at the border by providing intelligence and making sure its efforts complement those of Border Patrol.

ICE typically investigates smugglers while Border Patrol does the interdiction of the people crossing over.

The second layer would be in the Valley, where officers would go after the drop houses, employers, document vendors and the financial infrastructure of the smugglers.

Phoenix is a staging area where border crossers are sent onto different parts of the country, said Cmdr. Dan Wells, who leads a Department of Public Safety task force that combats gangs and illegal immigration.

The third level would involve patroling the smuggling pipelines of northern Arizona.

“We’re going to take three swings at them to stop them,” Peña said.

Some of the known efforts by local and state law enforcement include the offices of the Maricopa County Sheriff and Maricopa County Attorney, who work together to arrest and prosecute suspected illegal immigrants as co-conspirators with the human smugglers.

So far, the sheriff’s office has arrested 425 suspected illegal immigrants, many of whom pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit human smuggling and were put on probation and deported.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has joined forces with ICE, Phoenix police and the Department of Public Safety to seize millions in human smuggling funds that are transmitted through Western Union and other wire services.

Wells said they were able to follow the money to human smugglers, which would lead to the discovery of other crimes.

“We were able to impact the (human smuggling) organizations, but there are so many of them,” Wells said.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors gave approval Wednesday for sheriff’s deputies to be trained by ICE to enforce immigration laws, and DPS is also preparing for its gang unit to get the training.

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Comments left so far:

Bill
I don' live in Az. I live in California and we're being bombarded hard by illegals. Just as virtually every State in The Union is. At least ICE is trying to stem the flow of illegals in direct and proportionate response to MILLIONS of Americans who are fed up with the USA being Mexico's personal "Dumping Grounds". Enough is enough. Politicians looking out for themselves have NO Authority to declare "Sanctuary Cities."
February 11, 2007 Suggest removal of this comment

2 steve
I am so glad this is finally happening. By the way ICE can you start in Mesa say around Gilbert and Broadway area. You will get a ton of illegals. Actuall just drive down Broadway from Gilbert to about Center and you will get very lucky
February 11, 2007 Suggest removal of this comment

3 resident of the area
Actually ICE, just go to any of the elementary schools west of Gilbert on Broadway and you will encounter HUNDREDS of illegal parents picking up their children after school. Some of the children are also illegal, but the schools cannot press that issue.
February 11, 2007 Suggest removal of this comment

4 DJ
Why does the media INSIST on referring to these criminal law-breakers as 'migrants" rather than INVADERS?

The greater threat to the American Way of Life is posed by Mexico, not by Islam.
February 11, 2007

Local, state, and federal law enforcement all should enforce all laws. This is getting stupid with all the lawsuits from the ACLU. America is suppose to have laws and they are suppose to be enforced.

I agree. Rule of law has to be enforced or we are literally in complete anarchy!

I think it is has to be a joint effort to enforce the immigration law as it has gotten way out of control. Local law enforcement is ideal as they see them more than others. They catch them during routine traffic stops, see them involved in accidents, and get calls in cases of domestic violence to name just a few. Personally I feel that local law enforcement agencies are busy but when it comes to catching illegals, they should take them to the police station and put them in the holding cell and then let ICE take over so the local officers can get back on the road.

This sounds like the best plan any state has had, the other states need to take notice here, maybe something will get done.

Local law enforcement should be involved, so shove it ACLU,LA RAZA,LULAC, CHANBER OF COMMERCE MECHA, and any other traitors or our great nation. It is time to enforce our laws you have ignored far to long.

Many states and counties have been starting to get all law enforcement agencies to help with immigration enforcement. I agree businesses and others should get involved as well as if there are no jobs they will stop coming and many will leave.