http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5722636

Nov 23, 2006

Sheriff Arpaio says deal close to enforce immigration laws

PHOENIX -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said he's close to reaching a deal with federal immigration officials to let deputies enforce immigration laws.


Arpaio said Wednesday he has been negotiating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for months on an agreement letting trained deputies question, detain and arrest people they encounter who are in the country illegally.

Arpaio said he wants about 200 deputies and jail officers to take an eight-week course to learn how to enforce federal laws.

"I want my deputy sheriffs to be trained so if they ... see something wrong and we find out the person is here illegally, then we will have the authority to question that person and put a hold on that person and bring them to jail," Arpaio said.

A spokeswoman for federal immigration officials in Phoenix confirmed the talks. But spokeswoman Lauren Mack said she couldn't discuss details for legal reasons.

Such training is allowed under the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act, but a local agency's authority varies. Some only want detention officers trained so they can place immigration holds on inmates, while others want broader powers allowing them to detain people they've stopped on the streets for immigration violations.

Arpaio's disclosure of the talks came the day after a federal lawsuit was filed challenging the use of a state anti-smuggling law by Maricopa County to prosecute those who have been smuggled. Named in the suit is Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the county Board of Supervisors.

The suit was filed by several state legislators, two professors, several immigrant rights groups and six immigrants charged under the state statute. It accuses Arpaio and Thomas of misusing the law, which lawmakers say was not intended for use against smuggling "victims."

It also calls the enforcement policy a "scheme to control international borders." Arpaio and Thomas have maintained they are not enforcing immigration, but merely charging the immigrants with a standard conspiracy law.