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Deputies arrest illegal immigrants in QC

Sarah J. Boggan, Tribune

October 4, 2007 - 3:57PM , updated: October 5, 2007 - 2:32AM

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Citizen complaints about aggressive behavior by day laborers prompted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to arrest 16 illegal immigrants in downtown Queen Creek on Thursday, sheriff’s officials said.

Town and sheriff’s officials said residents complained about aggressive day laborers harassing drivers and shouting and taking photographs on cell phones of children at a school bus stop in the area of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads.

Town Manager John Kross said Queen Creek spends more than $3 million annually on a contract with the sheriff’s office to provide law enforcement services.

Kross said he recently met with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the issue of aggressive day laborers in the heart of Queen Creek emerged.

“It’s really a priority of the sheriff,” Kross said. “And we’ve been getting more and more complaints from residents about aggressive behavior (by day laborers).”

Kross said allegations of day laborer harassment include people being harassed when entering downtown businesses, being approached when stopped at the busy intersection and ongoing concerns about the safety of children at the Queen Creek Unified School District bus stop.

Part of the sheriff’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit, which is composed of 160 deputies, made the arrests during traffic investigations.

Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Chagolla said four traffic stops were made and drivers were cited for traffic violations while illegal immigrants in the vehicles were questioned and then detained.

Deputies on the scene said there were dozens of day laborers within a one-mile radius of the Ellsworth and Ocotillo intersection, Chagolla said.

Kross said the town staff will bring anti-loitering and parking ordinances before the Town Council in November in light of downtown safety concerns.

Arpaio recently initiated an illegal immigration hot line, (602) 876-4154, for people to report information regarding illegal immigration.

Since the hot line was implemented, more than 120 of 2,100 calls have been about day laborers, officials said. Deputies have arrested 96 illegal immigrants since the hot line began operating.

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