By Jacques Billeaud
Associated Press
PHOENIX — An Arizona sheriff known for arresting immigrant workers on charges of using fake or stolen IDs to get jobs is planning to close the controversial squad that investigates such cases.
The ID theft cases marked Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s last major foothold in immigration enforcement after his powers to enforce such laws have been curtailed in recent years.
Lawyers for Arpaio told a judge overseeing a challenge to such cases that he intends to close the squad once an investigation concludes in January or February.
Since 2008, Arpaio’s office has raided 83 businesses in which more than 700 immigrants have been charged with using fake or stolen IDs to get hired.
A memo by a sheriff’s official says the agency will be voluntarily halting its work-related ID theft enforcement.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press