Thread: Sheriff's 'Operation Ghost' sweep in Mesa in 2nd day

Sheriff's 'Operation Ghost' sweep in Mesa in 2nd day

191 commentsby Jim Walsh - Jun. 27, 2008 11:55 AM
The Arizona Republic

Maricopa County sheriff's deputies will return to Mesa Friday afternoon to continue "Operation Ghost," their controversial crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Mesa police also are preparing for the second day of the crackdown, working to keep the peace with demonstrators expected to return. Mesa police are establishing a command post near the county's Superior Court building, not far from the Sheriff's Office substation.

The Sheriff's Office announced Friday that they had arrested 37 people on the first day of the operation, including 14 who are undocumented immigrants.

"During the operational period, nine additional illegal aliens were rescued and detained by the Sheriff's SWAT deputies during a hostage rescue operation at a Mesa drop house," according to a sheriff's office press release.

The release said deputies arrested 12 suspects on warrants for various crimes including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, theft, forgery and drug charges.

"Today, we are returning to Mesa to continue our operations," the sheriff's office said.

The first day drew about 200 protesters. The majority denounced Arpaio's tactics as racist and pointless, saying the undocumented immigrants would return to the U.S.

But a small group of Arpaio supporters stood a short distance away, across a police barricade, waving American flags. There were no reported incidents between the two polarized camps.

Detective Diana Tapia, a Mesa police spokeswoman, said the demonstrators are expected to return Friday and Mesa police also will be on hand with the same mission as on Thursday.

"Our objective in being present today is to make sure peace is maintained for all demonstrators," Tapia said.

Mesa Police Chief George Gascón and Sheriff Joe Arpaio have traded barbs for months over the Sheriff's Office's enforcement of federal immigration laws. Gascón has accused Arpaio of grandstanding, saying that many of the undocumented immigrants would be deported, but return to the U.S. anyway.

But the crackdowns in Mesa, Guadalupe and Phoenix have drawn considerable support from the public, with many Valley residents praising Arpaio for enforcing the law.

Similar crackdowns in Phoenix, Fountain Hills and Guadalupe led to 174 arrests, with 91 of those suspects undocumented immigrants and 41 of them accused of additional crimes beyond entering the country illegally, according to Capt. Paul Chagolla, a sheriff's spokesman.
http://www.azcentral.com:80/news/articl ... n0627.html

At least ONE Elected Official doing the JOB he was Elected to accomplish.