Illegal immigrants: MCSO deputies chalk up 176 arrests in past month

07:07 AM Mountain Standard Time on Friday, April 20, 2007

Staff and wire reports

Deputies acting as federal agents have detained 176 illegal immigrants in the past month, said the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Of those detained, 138 were arrested for other charges. Their undocumented status came out during the booking process.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has trained early 40 of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's deputies, with a new class of 35just starting the four-week course.

The MCSO deputies are making their arrests under a state anti-smuggling law that calls for illegal immigrants to be charged with conspiracy to commit human smuggling.

Since the law went into effect in March, more than 520 people have been arrested.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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