Sheriff conducting immigration sweep in El Mirage
Nov. 15, 2010 06:44 AM
Associated Press
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The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is conducting an illegal immigrant sweep at an El Mirage business.

The Sheriff's Office says its Criminal Employment Squad has responded to a landscaping business in the 12,000 block of West Peoria Avenue.

The Sheriff's Office says its Illegal Immigration hot line received information that at least half of the people working in the business may be in the country illegally and using stolen identities to secure employment there.

Sheriff's deputies have identified 26 people out of 52 employees who may be using falsified identification documents.

Updated Info this afternoon:


Sheriff's Office conducting immigration sweep in El Mirage
by Clare Hane and Molly Smith - Nov. 15, 2010 01:15 PM
The Arizona Republic
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The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office conducted a sweep Monday morning at a landscaping business in El Mirage after a hotline tip accused the business of employing several workers believed to be in the country illegally.

Authorities said 26 people showed up to work in the morning at Nunez Creative Landscaping in the 12000 block of West Peoria Ave. Seventeen were arrested on suspicion for being in the country illegally. Authorities said of those 17 people, 11 were carrying false Social Security numbers.

Sgt. Manny Madrid said the sheriff's office received the tip about six months ago, and the sheriff's office began investigating the company. Madrid said the sheriff's office executed a search warrant at around 6 a.m.

Authorities were told that at least 26 out of 52 employees at Nunez Creative Landscaping could be using stolen identities to work there, according to Jeff Sprong of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the 11 believed to be carrying false Social Security numbers were booked into the 4th Ave. Jail and the other six were turned over to immigration to investigate their status.

"I like to think I am doing something about the economy," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. "Give these jobs to U.S. citizens."

Nunez Creative Landscaping released a statement Monday stating that the company takes immigration compliance seriously and has taken measures to make sure workers are legal.

According to the statement, the business uses federal government program and tax forms to ensure eligibility to work.

"The company does not engage in illegal employment practices," the statement says.

"Employers who follow all steps under the law could have an undocumented person on payroll because some workers present documents that are counterfeit," according to the statement.



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