MCSO: Arpaio to hold press conference, explain enforcement
Reported by: Katie Fisher

Last Update: 8:15 pm


PHOENIX, AZ – Maricopa County Sheriff's Office officials say Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be holding a press conference Thursday to address recent changes to his department and explain his illegal immigration enforcement tactics.

Arpaio will be addressing deputies who were previously certified as ICE agents under the former 287g agreement that was recently terminated.

Officials say those deputies will be ordered to turn in their ICE credentials during the address from the Sheriff.

Brian Lee, with MCSO, said Arpaio will also explain some of the procedures his deputies use when addressing illegal immigration issues.

In a release from the MCSO Wednesday, officials clarified how Sheriff Joe enforces illegal immigration laws and even offered up some of the tactics his department uses.

MCSO said several of Arpaio’s recent interviews have failed to properly explain his department’s practices and procedures.

According to the release, Arpaio has stated that his deputies have never initiated contact with anyone solely based on their nationality, and in fact have multiple indicators they use to assess possible immigration violations.

Sheriff Arpaio said, "My deputies always consider all the totality of circumstances before them. We never make an arrest or start questioning based on only one factor."

On Wednesday, MCSO released a list of several indicators included in the Immigration and Custom's Enforcement (ICE) Academy training manual used by Sheriff's deputies and detention officers during federal training.

(1) Does the detainee have a thick accent or not comprehend English;
(2) Whether the individual had identification;
(3) Is the location of the stop a known illegal alien locale;
(4) Is the detainee's appearance unusual or out of place in the specific locale;
(5) Does the detainee appear to be in transit or recently traveling;
(6) Did the detainee's demeanor (i.e., "freeze or take flight" when first spotted by the officer;
(7) Did the vehicle seem overcrowded or ride heavily; and
( Did the passengers in the vehicle slouch down, slump or attempt to avoid being detected in the vehicle.

Officials said there are many more factors taken into consideration, and many of these indicators are universal in the investigative process of other crimes as well.

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