MCSO, feds settle dispute over migrant jurisdiction
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MCSO, feds settle dispute over migrant jurisdiction
PHOENIX -- Federal agents will start deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiring to commit human smuggling, ending a dispute with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office over jurisdiction.
Wednesday's agreement means sheriff's deputies no longer will be tied up transporting undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiracy under the state's human-smuggling statute to the border.
It comes after months of wrangling and complaints from Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Gov. Janet Napolitano, who have chided Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Arizona and accused them of being uncooperative in the fight against illegal immigration.
Until now, federal agents have refused to transport people prosecuted under the state's human-smuggling law on the grounds that only federal officials have the authority to determine whether someone is in the country illegally.
So far, Arpaio said deputies have made 27 trips and transported 61 undocumented immigrants arrested under the smuggling law.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is the only local law-enforcement agency in Arizona arresting undocumented immigrants under the state statute.
An ICE spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday that from now on, agents would transport undocumented immigrants convicted under the smuggling law.
Arpaio said he believes ICE agents should be transporting all undocumented immigrants arrested under the human smuggling statute, regardless of whether they are convicted or not.
Deputies have released 108 undocumented immigrants arrested under the human-smuggling law from Maricopa County's jails into the community because agents have refused to pick them up, according to Arpaio.
That includes 16 people convicted under the smuggling law. The rest were released under their own recognizance, after no charges were filed, or for other reasons.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
PHOENIX -- Federal agents will start deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiring to commit human smuggling, ending a dispute with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office over jurisdiction.
Wednesday's agreement means sheriff's deputies no longer will be tied up transporting undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiracy under the state's human-smuggling statute to the border.
It comes after months of wrangling and complaints from Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Gov. Janet Napolitano, who have chided Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Arizona and accused them of being uncooperative in the fight against illegal immigration.
Until now, federal agents have refused to transport people prosecuted under the state's human-smuggling law on the grounds that only federal officials have the authority to determine whether someone is in the country illegally.
So far, Arpaio said deputies have made 27 trips and transported 61 undocumented immigrants arrested under the smuggling law.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is the only local law-enforcement agency in Arizona arresting undocumented immigrants under the state statute.
An ICE spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday that from now on, agents would transport undocumented immigrants convicted under the smuggling law.
Arpaio said he believes ICE agents should be transporting all undocumented immigrants arrested under the human smuggling statute, regardless of whether they are convicted or not.
Deputies have released 108 undocumented immigrants arrested under the human-smuggling law from Maricopa County's jails into the community because agents have refused to pick them up, according to Arpaio.
That includes 16 people convicted under the smuggling law. The rest were released under their own recognizance, after no charges were filed, or for other reasons.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
