Posted on 05/11/2006 10:05:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
AVONDALE, Ariz. - Following a week of tough talk, a 250-member sheriff's posse that was assembled to catch illegal immigrants made just one arrest in its first desert search early Thursday.
The posse — made up of Maricopa County sheriff's deputies and trained volunteers — launched night patrols Wednesday in the desert and along major roads southwest of Phoenix.
Deputies attempted to pull over a pickup truck about 12:45 a.m. Thursday, but the truck took off in the desert and its 15 to 20 occupants scattered. Only one person was tracked down, despite night-vision equipment, spotlights and a helicopter.
"It just makes me angry," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. "People say these are helpless people coming into the United States just to work, and yet when they see law enforcement, they run. If they were trying to obey the law, why are they running?"
Arpaio speculated that the night was slow because potential border crossers have heard about that the county is cracking down. He said the operation will continue.
Arpaio's posse is looking to arrest illegal immigrants under a new state law that allows local law enforcement to arrest and charge immigrant-smugglers with felonies. Sheriff's officials already have arrested 147 illegal immigrants and smugglers under the law.
A human-rights group is challenging County Attorney Andrew Thomas' contention that the law applies to illegal immigrants as well as immigrant smugglers.
You will get to find these people in a couple of days. Just follow the buzzards.
Roger Hedgcock hosted today, I may have missed the Sheriff.. not sure on that number
Why is this the second to last sentence in the article? I guess the new law is a failure, and without the single arrest from the other night, that would "only" be 146?
KitJ
YOU GO, JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We don't have to deport them. All we have to do is take away their jobs and deny them welfare, and they will go home.
Exactly...they have no illegals because they are successful and the smugglers aren't stupid as the press is.
No , that is the most difficult solution , because employers want cheap labor , and those out to destroy this country ( ACLU , Commies , Anarchists , Liberals , etc...) wanna give 'em everything !
Sheriff Joe will be successful in his program. It isnt like there were all 250 members out there on one night. The public will call in suspicious activities and there will be arrests made. There are far too many illegals moving through Arizona for it to dry up all of a sudden....
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