Thursday, July 16, 2009
Phoenix Business Journal
by Mike Sunnucks
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said Thursday he supports changes to federal immigration polices on local police raids.
The changes could impact Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s enforcement efforts, including raids on drop houses and businesses, conducted under a federal pact signed in April 2007.
Arpaio said, however, he will continue to conduct raids and crime sweeps under state immigration laws aimed at businesses that hire undocumented workers and the smuggling of illegal immigrants into the U.S.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said earlier this month that the Obama administration is reworking immigration polices that involve partnerships with local police. The changes look to focus investigations more on serious criminals, including gangs and drug cartels. Goddard said Thursday the changes make sense and that local enforcement should focus more on serious criminals rather than immigrant smuggling.
“We have to look at getting the biggest bang for the buck,” Goddard said.
Arpaio has conducted raids over the past year on drop houses in the Phoenix area where illegal immigrants entering the U.S. are stored by smuggling crews. He’s also raided businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers.
The sheriff said he is not sure if the federal government will end the 287-G agreement with his office, but recently told the Phoenix Business Journal it would amount to “amnesty” if the police fail to arrest those in the country illegally.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/07/13/daily62.html