Sheriff's deputies arrested nine suspected illegal immigrants and outraged dozens of immigrant advocates during the first 3 hours of saturation patrols in an east Phoenix neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Sheriff's patrols to target illegals

Nearly 200 deputies and volunteer posse members were expected to continue the high-visibility patrols near East Thomas Road and North 32nd Street throughout the Easter weekend.

Deputies also arrested four people on charges unrelated to their immigration status during the first hours of the sweep.

Authorities initially stopped each of the suspects because of traffic violations, such as running red lights or making illegal left turns.

A team of immigrant activists - who trailed deputies and photographed the arrests as they were being made - accused them of racial profiling, a suggestion Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio rejected. "I'm very comfortable with our operation. We will continue to perform our duties of locking up illegal aliens," he said.

Illegal immigrants picked up during the patrols face deportation to their countries of origin.

Arpaio's move into the working-class neighborhood touched off demonstrations in support and in opposition to the law enforcement operation. Protesters gathered outside a command center comprised of mobile offices and booking facilities set up in the parking lot between a Fry's Food & Drug store and a Goodwill store.

Engineer and activist Adolfo Maldonado used a bullhorn to voice his assessment of the operation.

"Beware! You've got some state-sponsored terrorism," he shouted as Arpaio spoke to dozens of reporters during a news conference.

Later, as immigrant activists tried to conduct their own news conference just outside of Arpaio's command center, four people on Harley-Davidson motorcycles adorned with U.S. flags stopped their bikes and revved the engines, making conversation impossible.

The command center was just blocks from Pruitt's furniture store, where Arpaio, immigrant advocates and anti-illegal immigrant activists clashed weekly last year.

Arpaio resumed the operation at the request of business owners, including Melody Jafari, owner of Jafari Chiropractic & Acupuncture at 2814 N. 36th St., and Ronnie Soqui, owner of Style & Charm Beauty Salon at 2836 N. 36th St.

Day laborers who loiter in the area disrupt their business and leave litter on their properties, the business owners said.

Soqui, who has operated his salon for 20 years, said day laborers have nearly caused him to go out of business.

Groups of men park their vehicles in his parking lot and harass his mostly elderly clientele who live in the neighborhood.

"I'm hoping something can be done that we can keep them off our street," said Soqui, who is Hispanic. "I don't care what color you are. You shouldn't be blocking anybody's driveway, going into our parking lots, taking over our parking spaces."

Arpaio said he'll begin saturation patrols near North 32nd Street and East Bell Road next week.