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Loads of illegal immigrants being smuggled through northern Ariz.
Examiner.com ^ | Aug 3, 2007 | Not Identified

Posted on 08/03/2007 5:11:20 AM PDT by radar101

Reports of human smuggling aren't just limited to along the Arizona-Mexico border, according to authorities who say loads of illegal immigrants are routinely being transported on roads and highways through northern Arizona.

State police and other law-enforcement agencies say they regularly encounter the smuggling vehicles during traffic stops on rural highways and on Interstates 17 and 40.

Officials say tens of thousands of illegal immigrants could be traveling through northern Arizona every year.

But when police in that part of the state stop illegal immigrants, they are often forced to let them go because they don't have the authority to detain them.

Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, but there is no federal law-enforcement presence north of Phoenix.

If Immigration and Customs Enforcement is unable to respond, then the illegal immigrants are released, said Lt. Jim Gerard, commander of the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Flagstaff region.

In recent years, the Department of Homeland Security has added hundreds of Border Patrol agents to southern Arizona and deployed hundreds of National Guard soldiers along the Mexico border in an effort to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

The government also has added dozens of agents and beefed up resources in the Phoenix ICE office to help dismantle and combat organized smuggling rings and reduce smuggling-related violence.

The northern part of the state, however, remains open to smugglers, said Alonzo Pea, ICE's special agent in charge of investigations in Arizona.

"I know it's a vulnerability we have to address. The mere fact we have no presence there and the ability of smugglers to capitalize on that is great," Pea said.

Police in northern Arizona said they often don't call ICE because they know it can take hours for the agency to respond.

Many of the illegal immigrants are headed to Las Vegas and California, according to authorities.

ICE is considering opening an office in Flagstaff to combat smuggling in northern Arizona and to handle other immigration and customs violations.

In addition, ICE is training DPS officers to enforce federal immigration laws. Some of the DPS officers cross-trained by ICE will be assigned to northern Arizona.

The DPS officers will be authorized to question immigrant suspects about their legal status and detain them until they can be turned over to ICE, authorities said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist

1 posted on 08/03/2007 5:11:23 AM PDT by radar101
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To: radar101
Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, but there is no federal law-enforcement presence north of Phoenix.

Hrm... there's Nat'l Forest Service and Nat'l Park Service folks up there.

2 posted on 08/03/2007 5:14:53 AM PDT by Lil'freeper (You do not have the plug-in required to view this tagline.)
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To: radar101

The biggest danger to our country comes from the open border along with the refusal to deport illegal aliens and the admission of undesirable legal immigrants, notably from enemy countries.


3 posted on 08/03/2007 5:18:51 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: Dante3

"Our JOB #1 is to use all America's assets to defend, house, free if incarcerated or caught,
protect, insure, immunize, educate, transport, fully provide for, and weaponize, all illegal aliens."

4 posted on 08/03/2007 5:23:02 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: radar101

bttt


5 posted on 08/03/2007 5:29:24 AM PDT by Guenevere (Duncan Hunter for President 2008!!!)
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To: Dante3

I agree, that is a huge danger, however there is a far bigger one. It is named Hillary, the socialist that wants to turn this country into another communist state.


6 posted on 08/03/2007 5:44:51 AM PDT by taillightchaser (!)
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3pools; 3rdcanyon; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; ..

ping


7 posted on 08/03/2007 8:52:52 AM PDT by gubamyster
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To: radar101

8 posted on 08/03/2007 3:12:32 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Dante3

Amen. Run for president I’ll send you a contribution of 1000 bucks.


9 posted on 08/03/2007 3:14:07 PM PDT by mainerforglobalwarming
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