Thread: DPS finds 61 illegal immigrants at Mesa apartment complex

http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4586734

March 5, 2006, 08:47 AM

Officials arrested five suspected human smugglers and turned over 61 illegal immigrants to federal immigration officials Friday, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Two DPS officers were injured during a scuffle with two suspected smugglers at a Wal-Mart, said DPS spokesman Frank Valenzuela. The two smugglers were arrested.

Three other suspected smugglers were arrested at a raid at the Sun Crest Apartments in Mesa, he said. Officers found 15 migrants in one apartment and 46 in another.

The arrests came a day after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies booked 51 suspected illegal immigrants on smuggling conspiracy charges. They're being held for prosecution under the state's new human smuggling law.

The law enacted in August gives prosecutors a way to go after smugglers, a job typically handled by federal authorities.

Under Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' interpretation of the law, the illegal immigrants themselves can be charged as co-conspirators because they paid smugglers to be brought into the country.

Thomas said he will file charges against those arrested Thursday under that law, which can lead to prison sentences of up to two-and-a-half years.

The illegal immigrants arrested Friday were not booked on those
charges.

Were they DEPORTED??

Originally Posted by butterbean

Were they DEPORTED??

That's the new $64,000,000 question.