Sheriff Posse to Arrest Illegal Immigrants

Innovative Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Phoenix, is taking advantage of a new Arizona law which will enable him to arrest illegal aliens:

Arpaio's deputies have already arrested about 120 illegal immigrants using a new state smuggling law.

"We're going to arrest any illegal who violates this new law," he said. "I'm not going to turn these people over to federal authorities so they can have a free ride back to Mexico. I'll give them a free ride into the county jail."

Under the law — as interpreted by the Maricopa County attorney — illegal immigrants can be arrested and prosecuted for conspiracy to smuggle themselves into the country. The law's authors have said they intended it to be used to prosecute smugglers, not the immigrants being smuggled.

Hats off to Sheriff Joe for this gutsy move.