PHOENIX, AZ – Deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26 people late Monday night on suspicion of being undocumented immigrants.
According to authorities, deputies made two traffic stops in both the Fountain Hills and North Phoenix areas, resulting in the arrests of 26 people.
Eighteen of the arrested individuals currently face charges of felony human smuggling and the eight others were reportedly turned over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
This marks the 98th arrest the sheriff’s office has made since federal officials removed deputies’ authority to act as agents of ICE in October.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio stated in a Tuesday news release that “a wide ranging crime suppression operation is imminent.”
