Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio: ICE refuses to pick up illegal immigrants for second time

MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ - Sheriff Joe Arpaio is once again questioning why agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused to take an illegal immigrant found by Sheriff’s deputies Monday afternoon.

A press release issued Tuesday said detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Human Smuggling Unit came in contact with two men during a traffic stop in Maricopa County.

During the traffic stop, detectives said the driver was unable to provide proper identification to operate a motor vehicle as required by state law. Both occupants later admitted to being in the country illegally.

The press release states the driver was arrested and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail on state charges while detectives tried to turn the passenger over to ICE.

The Sheriff's office said when contacted, ICE agents asked a series of questions then refused to take the illegal alien from Sheriff’s detectives. An ICE supervisor told Sheriff’s detectives the illegal immigrant did not fall into their guidelines for acceptance.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, “I continue to enforce the laws but keep running into road blocks. My office will continue its hard work in efforts to serve the residents of Maricopa County. My back up plan is still in place and we will continue to take these illegal aliens not accepted by ICE to the Border Patrol.”

Detectives transported the illegal immigrant to the Border Patrol in Casa Grande where he was processed for deportation.