MCSO Arrests 16 Illegal Immigrants

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said it has arrested 16 illegal immigrants since last week - just two blocks from the Pruitt's Furniture store that was the site of last Saturday's immigrant rights protest.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the arrests were made during routine traffic stops by the department's illegal immigrant task force. "We arrested six in that area last week and now we arrested ten more… on traffic violations and we determined they were illegal. We have the authority, the training and we locked them up."

Ten people, who were arrested Tuesday morning, were in four cars that were stopped for an unsafe lane change and other violations.

Arpaio said it's merely a coincidence that the arrests happened just three hours before a scheduled press conference by immigrant rights groups in front of the store near 36th Street and Thomas Road.