Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one of Arizona’s most influential law enforcement officers, indicated last week that a Federal judge’s decision to strike down several aspects of the state’s controversial immigration law will not slow his efforts to secure the area’s southern border. Arpaio said that he will continue to enforce the state’s human smuggling and employer sanctions laws, just as he has for the last three years, according to the Arizona Capitol Times.
He also indicated that he still plans to dispatch 200 deputies and posse volunteers to conduct the valley’s 17th crime suppression sweep in the coming days. The sheriff told Newsmax that two-thirds of those who were arrested during the 16 prior sweeps for criminal activity were in the country illegally.
"It’s business as usual for this Sheriff’s Office," Arpaio said. "All these protesters coming here from everywhere and the local critics aren’t going to change the way Arizona or this sheriff will fight our illegal immigration problem."
When asked by the news source how he would respond if activists followed through on their threats to block his jail, Arpaio vowed he would "take action," and arrest any demonstrators that inhibit law enforcement. ADNFCR-1961-ID-19913604-ADNFCR
