Thread: Napolitano, Arpaio say immigration cooperation lacking

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The Business Journal of Phoenix - August 15, 2006
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Napolitano, Arpaio say immigration cooperation lacking
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 4:38 PM MST Tuesdayby Mike SunnucksThe Business Journal
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio have written U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff strongly complaining about a top federal immigration official in Phoenix.

Napolitano and Arpaio do not directly name the special agent at the Immigration & Customs Enforcement Agency in Phoenix. But state government and Sheriff's office sources say the subject of the criticism is Special Agent in Charge Roberto Medina. The governor and sheriff are upset with lack of cooperation from Medina when it comes to sharing intelligence and investigation information and his refusal to pick up and deport illegal immigrants detained under the state's human smuggling laws, the sources say.

Napolitano and Arpaio further said they welcome expected personnel changes at ICE's Phoenix office, which apparently have included Medina's exit, which was confirmed late Tuesday. They also asked the Bush administration to improve communications with state and local officials. The Phoenix ICE office said Medina is being moved to the agency's office in El Paso, Texas.

"The previous Maricopa County ICE SAC (Special Agent in Charge) was reluctant to share even basic information regarding apprehensions, border crossing deaths, drug confiscation statistics, or the number of agents and man hours available to combat the problem," the letter stated. "He categorically refused to provide us with this information. His hostility to state and local law enforcement, coupled with a 'we know better than you' attitude, was counter to the mission of his agency and did serious damage to relations between our state and your department. We are greatly relieved and encouraged that he is being replaced."

Napolitano is a Democrat, Arpaio a Republican.

"ICE cooperation has been so lacking that the agency even has refused to pick up and deport undocumented immigrants who have been convicted under Arizona's human smuggling statute. Instead, Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies must drive the arrestees to the border to be turned over to Border Patrol -- a significant waste of time and taxpayer dollars," the letter further stated.

ICE is the federal agency that spearheads the fight against drug trafficking, human smuggling and other illegal activities from Mexico and other countries.

"Roberto Medina, who currently oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's investigative activities in Arizona, has been selected to serve as the new special agent in charge of the ICE office in El Paso, Texas," the agency said in a statement. "Mr. Medina's leadership experience with ICE in Arizona will serve him well in his new position. ICE recognizes the importance of its cooperative relationships with state and local law enforcement agencies in Arizona. During his tenure in Arizona, Mr. Medina spearheaded several initiatives to enhance that cooperation. ICE looks forward to continuing to build upon this cooperation and work closely with the state of Arizona and our law enforcement counterparts."


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More proof that President Bush's new Homeland Security grandstanding in the wake of the London trans-atlantic bombing plot has no credibility. Trying to make a new election display that Republicans are good with Homeland Security doesn't fly when the President's approval rating is at 30-35% due to false,lax, nil Border Security and multiple instances of lack of enforcement against illegal immigration.

Americans are watching the Border and it is reported that the National Guard has half, limply showed up and are just dilly-dallying like they are being told to do. Border Patrol -- what an abused job position by a boss.

A good question is this: Has President Bush notified the Mexican Government and its illegal Aliens where the National Guard are positioned just like he did with the American Citizen Minutemen?? Probably.

NO CREDIBILITY on Homeland Secuity Mr. Bush, so please stop the nonsense fearmongering, lording over and surveillancing/violating the Rights of the American People for election points.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... eboss.html

Immigration boss' transfer cheered

Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 17, 2006 12:00 AM

The federal official in charge of immigration enforcement for Arizona is being transferred to El Paso, drawing cheers from Gov. Janet Napolitano and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Roberto Medina's arrogant attitude and refusal to cooperate with state and local officials hurt the state at a time when Arizona is struggling to combat a major crime problem with smuggling networks that take advantage of federal policies that funnel illegal immigration traffic through the state, Napolitano and Arpaio said.

"His hostility to state and local law enforcement, coupled with a 'we know better than you' attitude was counter to the mission of his agency and did serious damage to the relations between our state and your department," Napolitano and Arpaio wrote in an Aug. 14 letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "We are greatly relieved and encouraged that he is being replaced."

Medina was reluctant to share "even basic" information, and his agency refused to pick up and deport Maricopa County Jail inmates presumed to be in the country illegally after they were convicted or cleared of state smuggling- related felony charges. As a result, sheriff's deputies were forced to transport dozens of presumed undocumented immigrants to the border themselves or release some of them from jail into the community, Arpaio said.

A statement released by ICE said Medina has been selected to oversee the ICE office in El Paso. The transfer will probably not occur for at least six months, spokesman Russell Ahr said. No replacement has been named.

The statement also said Medina spearheaded several initiatives that enhanced cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies. For example, ICE trained 12 Arizona Department of Corrections Officers to expedite the deportation of undocumented criminals from the state prison system, saving the state over $2.9 million.

The Phoenix office has experienced high turnover since the agency was created in March 2003. Medina, the sixth person to oversee the office, is leaving after less than a year and a half on the job.