Immigration boss' transfer cheered
Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 17, 2006 12:00 AM
The federal official in charge of immigration enforcement for Arizona is being transferred to El Paso, drawing cheers from Gov. Janet Napolitano and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Roberto Medina's arrogant attitude and refusal to cooperate with state and local officials hurt the state at a time when Arizona is struggling to combat a major crime problem with smuggling networks that take advantage of federal policies that funnel illegal immigration traffic through the state, Napolitano and Arpaio said.
"His hostility to state and local law enforcement, coupled with a 'we know better than you' attitude was counter to the mission of his agency and did serious damage to the relations between our state and your department," Napolitano and Arpaio wrote in an Aug. 14 letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "We are greatly relieved and encouraged that he is being replaced." advertisement
Medina was reluctant to share "even basic" information, and his agency refused to pick up and deport Maricopa County Jail inmates presumed to be in the country illegally after they were convicted or cleared of state smuggling- related felony charges. As a result, sheriff's deputies were forced to transport dozens of presumed undocumented immigrants to the border themselves or release some of them from jail into the community, Arpaio said.
A statement released by ICE said Medina has been selected to oversee the ICE office in El Paso. The transfer will probably not occur for at least six months, spokesman Russell Ahr said. No replacement has been named.
The statement also said Medina spearheaded several initiatives that enhanced cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies. For example, ICE trained 12 Arizona Department of Corrections Officers to expedite the deportation of undocumented criminals from the state prison system, saving the state over $2.9 million.
The Phoenix office has experienced high turnover since the agency was created in March 2003. Medina, the sixth person to oversee the office, is leaving after less than a year and a half on the job.
2006-08-17
06:35:20
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