Immigration sweep begins after protest delay

July 29, 2010 7:23 pm

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has begun his 17th immigration and crime sweep after hundreds of immigrant rights supporters delayed the effort with a rally at a downtown jail.

Most of the 200 deputies and volunteers who were supposed to go on the sweep at noon Thursday had to go to the jail instead.

A sheriff's spokesman says a couple of squads were able to start the sweep Thursday afternoon and arrested seven people for open warrants or other charges. It was not immediately clear whether any of those arrested were illegal immigrants.

The protesters were rallying in opposition to Arizona's new immigration law. A judge put the most controversial elements of the law on hold, but allowed other portions to take effect.

http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-reg ... b35d2.html