In Scottsdale, misdirected praise for immigration policy

Carol Sowers
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 26, 2007 12:31 PM

A New Yorker, who plans to move to the Valley, congratulated the Scottsdale Police Department on its tough illegal immigration policy.

But the man got it all wrong. He wasn't alone.

About two dozen people called or e-mailed the Scottsdale police after they read an incorrect Associated Press story distributed nationwide on Sunday. The story, since corrected, said Scottsdale Police are demanding proof-of-citizenship when they make an arrest.

Not true.

In October, Scottsdale police began asking every suspect about their citizenship, but are not asking for documents to prove it.

"As soon as the story hit the AP wire on Sunday night, I started getting emails from New York, Illinois, Florida," said Sgt. Mark Clark, Scottsdale police spokesman. "This just shows how immigration is such a hot button topic that seemingly a local story can generate passion around the country."

Callers and e-mailers didn't appear to be associated with any group.

"They just praised us for what they thought we were doing," Clark said.

Secretaries answering the phones on Monday gave callers basic information about the new policy and referred callers to Clark if they had more questions, like this one from a Sierra Vista man and others.

The Sierra Vista man wanted to know what kind of documents he would need if he got arrested in Scottsdale.

As he had done dozens of times, Clark told the man he would not need documentation, contrary to what the AP story said.