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Dec 2, 9:55 AM EST


Illegal immigrants arrested at furniture store PROTEST

MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Eight illegal immigrants were arrested during a protest outside of a Phoenix furniture store that had hired sheriff's deputies to keep day laborers away.
Protesters have been demonstrating for the past six Saturdays at Pruitt's furniture store in east Phoenix against the arrests of illegal immigrants in the area. Maricopa County sheriff's deputies had arrested 24 illegal immigrants in the area after stopping them for traffic violations.
The eight people arrested Saturday on su****ion of violating immigration laws were the first illegal immigrants taken into custody during the actual protests.
"I thought it was time to do something more about it," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. "The Pruitt's situation is getting out of hand. They are demonstrating every week and destroying this business. I don't think that's fair."
In late October, Pruitt's hired sheriff's deputies to keep day laborers away from gathering on the property, saying they were hurting business.
On Nov. 3, Daniel Pochoda, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, was arrested on a trespassing charge during one of the protests. Deputies said at the time Pochoda refused to move his car from the property.
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