Arpaio, deputies target illegal aliens in town of Guadalupe...

Arpaio, deputies target illegal aliens in town of Guadalupe


The Associated Press, April 4, 2008



Mesa, AZ (AP) -- Dozens of Maricopa County sheriff's deputies and posse members descended on the small town of Guadalupe in an effort to curb what the sheriff said are street crimes involving illegal immigrants.

Within the first three hours Thursday of the two-day operation in Guadalupe between Phoenix and Tempe deputies arrested 15 people, four of whom are illegal immigrants.

The sheriff's office said deputies were ordered to stop drivers for minor traffic violations and ask for identification. In some cases, people were stopped for littering.

'I've got news for my critics out there. I'm going to continue to do this over and over again,' Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said at a news conference about the 'saturation patrol.'

The heavy sheriff's office presence in the largely Hispanic town of about 5,500 people included roughly 30 patrol cars, 60 civilian volunteers known as posse members and a helicopter.

Throughout the town, a number of handwritten signs had been posted along main roads asking the sheriff's office to leave. One read, 'This is our home. Leave us alone.'

The sheriff's office said in a news release that the town has been hit hard by crime, and that tension between those living in Guadalupe and illegal immigrants were on the rise.

Town residents and Hispanic activists challenged those assertions.

'What crime? What crimes are they talking about? I've lived here my whole life. Why is he (Arpaio) targeting Hispanics,' said Margarita Casillas, who added there haven't been any problems in recent months and that the patrols are another excuse for Arpaio to 'harass' Hispanics.

Last month, the sheriff's office targeted east Phoenix neighborhoods in a pair of roundups that netted the arrest of 165 people, 79 of whom are illegal immigrants. The roundups sparked criticism from local immigration activists and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who called the actions 'made-for-TV stunts.'

Arpaio responded Wednesday, calling out Gordon for not doing enough to curb illegal immigration in Phoenix.



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