MCSO arrests 19 undocumented immigrants in 2 days

PHOENIX - Authorities say that in two days sheriff's deputies have arrested 19 undocumented immigrants coming into Maricopa County from Guatemala and Mexico.

According to a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office news release, Human Smuggling Unit detectives arrested eight immigrants and booked them into the 4th Avenue Jail on state human smuggling charges.

During interviews with detectives, members of the group admitted to paying between $1,000 and $3,000 to be smuggled into the U.S.

They were headed to Florida, North and South Carolina, officials said.

Two undocumented immigrants were also arrested by deputies after a traffic stop.

Another group was detained and nine were arrested and booked into jail for violating human smuggling laws, officials say.

Among the suspects was a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor who was one of two turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to MCSO.