Deputies Arrest 23 Illegals Tuesday Night (KPHO-AZ)

Deputies Arrest 23 Illegals Tuesday Night

POSTED: 2:35 pm MST September 15, 2010

PHOENIX -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio reports that his deputies arrested 23 illegal immigrants Tuesday night. This brings the week’s total to 35 illegal immigrants arrested while engaging in human smuggling.

The arrests were the result of two traffic stops in the North Valley involving two separate vehicles. One vehicle contained 13 occupants and the other had 12. During one of the traffic stops, two suspects fled on foot into the desert.

"Even though the media hype surrounding SB 1070 has worn off for now, illegal aliens continue to sneak into the United States through Maricopa County and my deputies continue to pursue them as they have for the past three years," said Arpaio.

During the course of their duties, Maricopa County Sheriff’s officers have been responsible for investigating, arresting and/or identifying more than 40,000 illegal immigrants.

Sheriff Arpaio plans to commission a volunteer armed posse force outfitted with appropriate hardware and gear to assist in the enforcement of illegal immigration and human smuggling laws.