August 14, 2009
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona sheriff who has aggressively cracked down on illegal immigration sent deputies into a Phoenix paper plant where they arrested 44 employees suspected of identity theft or immigration violations.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio says Thursday's raid on the Royal Paper Converting Co. plant is the second in just more than a year at the facility.
Deputies sought 102 people in the raid. Of the only 44 who were arrested, 35 were jailed on suspicion of felony identity theft and nine were turned over to federal immigration agents.
Arpaio's office has conducted numerous workplace raids in the past two years.
Royal Paper's attorney, Julie Pace, says the company uses the e-verify system to check that employees have the right to work in the U.S. and had all required forms on file.
