Sixteen arrested at west Phoenix drophouse

Sixteen suspected illegal immigrants have been arrested at a house in far west Phoenix, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Deputies went to the house near 108th Avenue and West Turney Wednesday night.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the suspects wre hiding throughout the house. He said all were found to have entered the United States illegally, paying between $100 and $4,000 to human smugglers.

They were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail.

The sheriff said that since March 10 -- when the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation of his office -- deputies have arrested 322 illegal aliens on state and federal immigration violations. He said they have made 3,048 arrests since 2006.

"I will not be deterred by the Department of Justice, Washington D.C., politicians or critics," Arpaio said. "As long as the illegal immigration continues to be a problem for our community, I will do my part by enforcing all the illegal immigration laws."

The sheriff also said Thursday that his office will conduct a large-scale crime suppression operation in the near future. He would not disclose the location.