Lorraine Rivera reports
New deputies trained on immigration issues

October 1, 2008


The Pinal County Sheriff's Department now has five new deputies, specially trained for handling immigration matters. These deputies just finished training in immigration issues from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Deputy Zach Mauzy said the department encounters drug and human smuggling on an almost daily basis.

Mauzy said among the things he's been trained to handle, "The stipulations of visa cards, fraudulent documents; depending on what type of visa we know how far they're allowed to be from the border and how long they can be here."

Among the problems Mauzy deals with are abandoned vehicles left in the desert. He, along with Detective Joey Cruz found an abandoned pick up truck in Stanfield; it was reported stolen out of Glendale. Mauzy said smugglers tried to hide the truck in a wash waiting for a load of illegal immigrants.

Deputies had the truck towed to Elite Towing in Casa Grande. Shane Wilcox, the owner said he currently has at least 8 heavy duty pick up trucks seized that were used for drug and human smuggling, "Mostly four wheel drive trucks is what they tend to get with because of [where] they go and the terrain; it's pretty rough."

The Pinal County Sheriff's Department says they hope to expand their border enforcement in funding a border crimes unit.

http://www.kvoa.com/global/story.asp?s=9110132