SB 1070 Supporters Don't Like ICE Proposal
Updated: Friday, 10 Sep 2010, 7:30 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 10 Sep 2010, 6:50 AM MDT

PHOENIX - A shift in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement policy has America's toughest Sheriff seeing red. Joe Arpaio is angry with the feds over their new stance on handling illegal immigrants.

I.C.E. may no longer deport illegal immigrants busted for minor violations like traffic tickets, unless those people previously committed more serious crimes.

The reason: courts are just too packed with immigration cases.

The proposal has come under fire by the county sheriffs in Arizona, who have been leading a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio predicts that proposal will soon become policy. He says he has a big problem with letting any illegal immigrant go.

"Just let the go..that's amnesty..that's what they're getting to," said Arpaio.

The Sheriff says the feds can change the way they deal with illegal immigrants, but he's not changing a thing.

Under the proposal, I.C.E. would stop picking up illegal immigrants caught during misdemeanor traffic stops. The feds say they want to focus on deporting illegal immigrants with serious criminal records instead.

The proposed change states: "Immigration officers should not detain an illegal alien charged only with a traffic-related misdemeanor ... unless or until the alien is convicted."

Illegal immigrants would be detained for more serious crimes, such as driving under the influence.

"Why would you let them go if they're here in this country illegally..I guess we should let them all go because they're not big crimes," said Arpaio.

The proposed policy change comes after a national study found a record backlog of deportation cases, including immigrants waiting more than a year for their hearing.

I.C.E's Brian Hale says "This administration is committed to smart, effective immigration reform, prioritizing the arrest and removal of criminal aliens and those who pose a danger to national security. I.C.E. is not engaged in "backdoor" amnesty and has placed more people in immigration proceedings this year than ever before."

Arpaio questions the timing of this proposal with Senate Bill 1070 still in the appeals process. He says this won't stop him from holding another crime sweep.

"There may be other moves we can make if this goes into effect," said Arpaio.

The Sheriff won't say what those moves are and there's no word on when another crime sweep will take place.

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