MSCO: Deputies raid Phoenix business, make 44 arrests (ABC15.com)

MSCO: Deputies raid Phoenix business, make 44 arrests
Reported by: Brent Roulier
Email: broulier@abc15.com
Reported by: MaryEllen Resendez
Last Update: 8/14 2:40 pm

PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that 10 to 15 employees called in sick for work Thursday morning, the same day their south Phoenix business was raided.

Deputies arrested 44 people during the raid at the Royal Paper Converting Company located near 17th Avenue and Fillmore Street.

According to Friday's MCSO news release, the employees who called in sick were scheduled to work later in the day at a second location on Lower Buckeye Road and that business was investigated hours after the initial search.

MCSO did not release any information about the second raid.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the managers at Royal Paper Converting Company knowingly hired undocumented immigrants who were using false identification documents to get hired.

But the Sheriff also admitted to reporters he has no evidence against the company.

The search warrant was granted on evidence gathered with social security numbers used by 39 of the workers.

Arpaio said this is the second time in two years his deputies received information that the company was hiring undocumented immigrants. The first raid occurred in March of 2008 and resulted in the arrest of four employees accused of identity theft, according to a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office news release.

"So they're still coming, they're still arrogant, they're still being hired and they're still working," Arpaio said during a news conference Thursday. "So, nothing has really changed since we cracked down on this situation."

But according to Virginia Reyna, who waited anxiously outside for her 19-year-old niece, many of the workers held were legal.

"I'm upset with the stuff they're doing with the innocent people inside, " said Reyna. He's (Arpaio) cruel. He should get other people who are doing harm, instead of innocent people like this."

During Thursday's incident, about 100 deputies and posse members surrounded the business. According to the news release, "Several employees attempted to flee but were found and detained by deputies."

MCSO stated that 102 people were targeted during the investigation. Of those, so far 44 have been arrested. Thirty-five of those arrested face state felony charges of identity theft.

Angela Aspericueta, whose family member is legally working at the paper plant, worried about the female workers being detained.

"They're doing everything wrong, cause the people who have kids in school," said Aspericueta. "What if they take their moms? What are they gonna do?"

According to the release, the remaining employees will be sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where they'll face deportation.

During the raid, deputies removed computers, employment records, payroll records, and other documents from the premises.

Arpaio said deputies are still searching for 60 suspects involved with the Royal Paper Converting Company and the investigation into the company's alleged illegal practices will continue.

"This investigation is far from over," said Arpaio. I would hope that this Phoenix-based company concentrates on hiring people who are legal to work in the country in light of the current economic situation."

According to Friday's news release, "As information of the Sheriff's Office raid hit local news broadcasts, people began showing up at Royal Paper looking for jobs."

"This proves again that people in thie country legally are willing to do jobs that many politicians claim they will not do," said Arpaio. "President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano feel that law enforcement should concentrate their enforcement efforts on employers, not employees. I feel that we need to enforce all immigration laws."

Of the employees who reportedly called in sick, one was arrested at her home near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road. She was booked into jail on forgery and identity theft charges, according to MCSO.

Thursday's arrests were the result of a yearlong investigation, according to Deputy Lindsey Smith with MCSO.

MCSO says Thursday's raid marked the 23rd investigation that has resulted in the arrests of 311 undocumented immigrants.

"We have potentially created over 300 jobs for legal residents of this country because of these types of investigations," said Arpaio. "Those are real numbers, not like the estimates that you get out of Washington D.C. when attempting to justify claims on the success of the recent stimulus bill."

During Thursday's news conference, Arpaio added that during the past two weeks alone deputies have arrested 168 undocumented immigrants during several investigations.

"I'm pleased to see that local ICE authorities apparently may have changed their position about accepting people for possible deportation who we determined during today's operation are in the country illegally but with no state violations of the law," said Arpaio.

Arpaio said that only three weeks ago, ICE officials ordered his office to release 10 undocumented immigrants from custody.

"Today, they are accepting our arrests with no apparent interference from the Department of Homeland Security. That's a good sign," said Arpaio.