BREAKING! Press Release from Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Office - PUENTE INJUNCTION VACATED- Arizona Identity Theft Laws Reinstated

(Maricopa County,Arizona) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit reversed a federal district court in Arizona and vacated a preliminary injunction that stopped enforcement of Arizona identity theft laws passed in 2007. The Arizona laws were aimed at stopping the flood of identity theft cases which plagued the State of Arizona and gave it the dubious distinction of being the worst state in the U.S. for identity theft. A substantial number of identity theft cases were directly related to employment related fraud. 

In Jan. 2015, the U.S. District Court in Arizona originally granted an injunction putting the identity theft laws on hold. That hold is now lifted. The Court of Appeals agreed with Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s counsel, Michele Iafrate, that the identity theft laws are neutral- they apply to everyone “unauthorized aliens, authorized aliens and U.S. citizens alike.” 

“I do not and have not selected what laws should be enforced,” said Sheriff Joe Arpaio, “now that the 9th Circuit has set aside the injunction, the laws of Arizona, all of them including identity theft laws, should be enforced.” 

Arpaio continues, “I already have procedures in place as a result of my written agreement with the Department of Justice in our earlier litigation. I will be reviewing these procedures in the very near future for enforcement operations. I have not yet decided when or if to resurrect identity theft enforcement.”

Deputy Chief Jack MacIntyre says The Puente organization has

constantly attacked Sheriff Arpaio and his officers about the

enforcement of the laws in Arizona as it applies to all the people,

unauthorized aliens, authorized aliens and U.S. Citizens, even stooping

so low as to suggest arrests for enforcing our laws. Some in that group

have even worn t-shirts suggesting Sheriff Arpaio be arrested without

cause.

From the office of Sheriff Joe Arpaio - 100 West Washington, Suite 1900, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 | Phone (602)876-1801 | Fax: (602)258-2081 | Media Contact: mediarequest@mcso.maricopa.gov