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Arpaio tweaks jail visit rules after mix-up
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Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Thursday tweaked his policy that bans jail visitors who are illegal immigrants after a court interpreter was turned away because he couldn’t prove he was a naturalized citizen.
Since the policy took effect Aug. 8, visitors have been required to fill out a form which asks whether the person is a U.S. citizen or a naturalized citizen not born in the U.S.
The naturalized citizens would then have to provide background information such as a certification number and passport information.
A court interpreter wasn’t let in when he couldn’t produce the background information, Arpaio said. Now, there won’t be any distinction between the two because naturalized citizens were unfairly treated.
“I want them treated like U.S.-born,” Arpaio said.
County employees with authorized identification also can get in without filling out the forms.
The rest of the visitors are run through a federal database to determine if they are illegal immigrants.
“If we find someone here illegally, we’re going to arrest them,” he said.
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