Sheriff Responds to Recent Arrests by Increasing Posse Patrols for Illegals
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to arrest and incarcerate illegal aliens entering Maricopa County. During the weekend 13 illegal immigrants were arrested in two separate incidents for violating a new felony human smuggling law. And Monday, Arpaio's deputies arrested 26 illegal immigrants, during two separate incidents in the Gila Bend area.

Arpaio's Office continues to be the only law enforcement agency in Arizona to enforce the new state law.

The 39 illegal immigrants arrested Monday and over the weekend were smuggled from Yuma, AZ, just after President Bush's visit to the Yuma sector.

Arpaio continues to recommend with the new U.S.-Mexico Border initiative that immigrants entering the US illegally be charged under a federal law, very seldom enforced, which can bring up to a six month sentence in federal prison.

Arpaio states that it is time for local and federal agencies to start transporting illegal aliens to jail instead of turning these criminal over to federal immigration authorities for a free air-conditioned ride back to Mexico. Evidently, the message is not getting out to the smugglers and illegal immigrants to stay out of Maricopa County, and so Arpaio will increase posse patrols.

Arpaio says, "I will make room in my tents and other jails, which average over 10,000 inmates per day, for thousands of illegal immigrants who violate the law in Maricopa County. Jail costs or no room in jail will never be an excuse for not arresting illegal aliens violating the law."

05.23.06
http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=4937255