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Roundup rumors flood airwaves but are false

The Arizona Republic
Apr. 20, 2006 09:09 PM


Panicked over business raids by immigration officials this week in Phoenix and across the United States, many Latinos and immigrants on Thursday flooded Valley Spanish-language radio talk shows with calls and sent text messages warning each other of possible immigration checkpoints where authorities stopped people asking for identification.

Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol said they had no ongoing operations in the area.

"In the past, shortly after we've done major operations, there's been a rash of reports like this," said Russell Ahr, ICE spokesman in Phoenix. Ahr went on several Spanish radio stations on Thursday afternoon to reassure listeners that his agency was not conducting operations in the area. "I've never known any ICE units to establish checkpoints at any traffic intersections," in the Valley, he said.

The rumor spread like wildfire Thursday afternoon. People called talk shows, newspapers and non-profits, saying authorities wearing green uniforms were detaining Hispanics at 35th and 83rd avenues and McDowell Road, and at 51st Avenue and Thomas Road. One chain of messages warned people of a checkpoint at 83rd Avenue and McDowell Road and asked them to "pass the word" to all their friends.