A Tempe business is facing possible sanctions under Arizona’s Employee Sanctions Act involving the hiring of illegal immigrants after Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at 21st Century Healthcare and arrested 31 people on Thursday.
Acting on a tip that the company was hiring illegal immigrants, deputies investigated the business and arrested 31 suspects believed to be using stolen identities to gain work at the business in the 2100 block of South Wilson Street, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Headquartered in Tempe, 21st Century Healthcare, Inc., is one of the largest international manufacturers of dietary supplements in the United States, according to the company’s website.
The company has offices in seven locations around the world, and currently sells nutritional products for both humans and pets in more than 50 different countries, according to its website.
The MCSO investigation is ongoing and marks its 58th investigation into employers violating the Employer Sanctions Act in Arizona, according to the MCSO.
In an issued statement, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, “Illegal aliens are stealing identities of U.S. citizens to gain employment which escalates our unemployment problems. I don’t believe we should tolerate this. Furthermore, I will continue to enforce all federal and state illegal laws in the business sector through human smuggling and crime suppression operations, despite activists, some elected officials and the federal government who have concerns regarding our operations.”
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
Slabside posted at 4:22 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Thank you Sheriff Arpaio!
tnscottsdale posted at 5:16 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Joe is doing his job. His job is to arrest people who are breaking our laws. No matter what those laws might be.
Juggernaut8000 posted at 5:18 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Good work Joe. Keep up the enforcement!
samkat posted at 6:40 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
The company's excuse was that E-Verify is not fool proof. I have a flash for them. I did the voluntary E-Verify which took all of two minutes. Some of the questions even made me think. Too many companies give a wink and a nod when looking at the applicant's documentation. I echo the three previous comments. Go Joe.
Masterrogue666 posted at 7:31 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Thank you Joe, and MCSO for all you do. The sad think is that Obama will probably give them a kiss and a hug to get a vote.
He's going to need them, considering his approval rating....
6Characters posted at 8:44 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Arpaio is a racist and so are all of you. Congratulations, biggots!
Rich posted at 10:24 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
I was born in Los Angeles. Because I have owned, and do own businesses overseas, and paid my taxes to the U. S. E-Verify doesn't recognize me, my wife, two of my children. Should Joe show up at my door? E-Verify has more bugs than Tempe when the dam breaks. My daughter-in-law, who was born raised and lives in Tokyo, and worked here a year passes. E-Vilify is closer to the truth. If they could do it right, it might be different, but they'd rather regulate your dog leash. I'd be interested to see how far this gets, Like most of what Joe does it's just done to get in the paper, and the case won't be followed. How many are businesses are 'sanctioned?'
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:04 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
31 jobs are now available for "LEGAL" Citizens of the United States of America.
But what do we see from the Liberals, the Progressives, the Democrats, the Socialists and the Communist Wanna-be's.........BLAMING MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO FOR DOING HIS JOB. FOR ENFORCING THE ILLEGAL ALIEN LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE THE 1920'S.
REMEMBER THAT OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE HELPING THESE MEXICAN, GUATAMALAN, HONDURAN AND EL SALVADORAN CITIZENS........STEAL........JOBS FROM UN-EMPLOYED AMERICANS.....REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER WHEN YOU VOTE.
6Characters posted at 12:11 am on Fri, Mar 16, 2012.
Arpaio is a racist and so are all of you. EVT has you back because they are racists as well. Tea Party rhetoric all day long but somebody calls a duck a duck and gets deleted.
Estoban posted at 6:55 am on Fri, Mar 16, 2012.
Joe has done more to open up jobs for unemployed American and LEGAL immigrants than Obama has by using $billions of our tax dollars. Joe is our Arizona Czar for protecting American rights.
k33j88 posted at 7:35 am on Fri, Mar 16, 2012.
Thank You Sheriff Joe Arpaio for protecting the citizentry and resisting federal tyranny. Now that the Constitutional-ripping, illegal-in-chief, has been exposed, where is all the uproar in the established media? Those of us who see the light can understand.
Masterrogue666 posted at 3:21 pm on Fri, Mar 16, 2012.
@Rich: I'm not sure what you meant by:
"How many are businesses are 'sanctioned?'" -- Please expound. If the business did knowingly hire ILLEGAL ALIENS, it's up to the County Prosecutor to charge them, I believe.
You'd think the IRS would assist, because if stolen SSN's are used, wouldn't it show up that one person has "two" (or more) jobs, and perhaps in different states.
IwanttogohometoTempe posted at 11:43 am on Tue, Mar 20, 2012.
Lived in Tempe for 20 years, been gone from AZ for 10 years and I miss AZ sooo much. Now living in Delaware. If you think it isn't important to stop illegals think again. Just this week, front page of the 'paper' the Nanny state of HELLaware wants to pass DREAM Act for illegals even though American kids can't here in HELLaware can't get grants for education. So, how cheap is that cheap chicken from Perdue in Lower Slower Illegal Delaware? Sheriff Joe, come to Delaware and show them how its done!!!