Sheriff Arpaio Continues with Human Smuggling Interdiction and Felony Crackdown despite Ongoing Controversy
Phoenix, AZ - Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio reports his deputies made 37 arrests in five short hours last night during a human smuggling interdiction. Deputies conducted several traffic stops on I-17 near Anthem and various parts of the East Valley, which led to 37 arrested, 36 of whom were illegal aliens, 23 were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail under state felony smuggling charges. The remaining eleven arrested under federal charges were transferred to ICE.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I will not stop enforcing the law, regardless of an activist with a camera or a City of Phoenix Councilman following my deputies around,” Arpaio says.
Recently, 500 organizations wrote letters to President Obama requesting to terminate the 287-G agreement. The Sheriff is leaning towards renewing the contract, however even without the contract the Sheriff pledges continued enforcement of immigration laws.
Arpaio says he is planning another Crime Suppression Operation in the very near future.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office continues to be the only agency enforcing all aspects of the felony Arizona state human smuggling laws.
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