February 26, 2007

ICE to train Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies to enforce immigration law
ICE and Sheriff’s Office sign agreement to work together to combat illegal immigration

PHOENIX - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) allowing deputies to perform immigration law enforcement functions as permitted by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

A total of 160 officers from the MCSO will join the growing list of state and local agencies receiving immigration training and authority under the supervision of sworn ICE officers. The cross-designation is a benefit to both ICE and local law enforcement agencies by helping to restore integrity to the nation's immigration system.

“I thank Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County for their willingness to enter into this agreement, which I believe will lead to unprecedented cooperation between ICE and the MCSO to combat the violence and crime that go hand in hand with illegal immigration,” said Alonzo R. Peña, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona.

The agreement will allow the sheriff's detention officers to interview foreign national inmates in the county jail facilities to determine whether there is probable cause for an immigration violation. Under the program, the deputies will complete the processing of any criminal aliens and prepare the documentation to place those aliens in deportation proceedings.

During the rigorous four-week course scheduled to begin later this month, 39 sheriff's deputies and detention officers will learn in-depth about immigration and nationality laws. Like ICE officers, these cross-trained MCSO personnel will have the authority to determine whether or not an individual is an illegal alien and can be placed in immigration removal proceedings.

ICE has similar agreements with 10 other local law enforcement agencies and has trained more than 200 officers nationwide. More than 40 municipal, county and state agencies nationwide have applied for 287(g) agreements with ICE.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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