State Worker In Arizona Charged With Migrant Smuggling, Boss’ Job In Question

A now-fired worker of nan Arizona Department of Agriculture is retired connected bail aft being charged pinch a felony tied to profiting from smuggling migrants into nan country. Republicans look fresh to usage nan apprehension to contradict Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ prime to tally a authorities section a imperishable job.

Joshua Castro was arrested successful Nogales, Arizona, by Border Patrol agents connected April 10, aft he was seen transporting what agents suspected to beryllium migrants successful nan state illegally. He wasn’t moving astatine nan time, but separator patrol agents opportunity he was wearing his state-issued azygous erstwhile he was arrested.

Castro has worked for nan Arizona Department of Agriculture arsenic a nutrient inspector since 2017, according to authorities employment data. 

Court documents show Castro was later released connected his ain recognisance, but nan harm to his profession –– and perchance that of acting Department of Agriculture Director Paul Brierley –– was already done. 

Multiple news outlets reported that Hobbs had terminated Castro’s employment soon aft learning of his apprehension and directed nan section to reappraisal policies and train labor to guarantee it didn’t hap again.

The arrest

According to tribunal documents, agents saw Castro’s car walking successful Nogales aft antecedently suspecting it of quality smuggling. 

Agents observed nan car walking astatine a precocious complaint of velocity nan time before, getting disconnected of and backmost onto nan section interstate successful a maneuver they opportunity is simply a communal maneuver for smugglers to cheque if they’re being tracked by rule enforcement.

After pulling complete nan car, Castro said he didn’t cognize nan 2 men successful nan backmost spot and that they had conscionable asked for a ride. The 2 men admitted that they were Mexican nationals and had paid thousands of dollars to beryllium transported into nan U.S., adding they were instructed to hold astatine a location successful Nogales for a car matching Castro’s to prime them up. One of nan witnesses heard Castro telephone personification and corroborate that he’d picked up nan 2 men. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office successful Arizona had announced charges for 329 individuals suspected of quality smuggling soon aft Castro’s arrest. 

Republicans could usage nan apprehension successful assignment process

Hobbs and Republicans who tally some chambers of nan Arizona Legislature person been astatine likelihood complete nan governor’s picks to tally authorities departments. GOP leaders formed nan Committee connected Director Nominations, known arsenic DINO, successful 2023 to vet Hobbs’ appointments earlier they must beryllium voted connected successful nan Senate for confirmation. The committee has changeable down respective nominations, accusing 1 of plagiarism and grilling others for governmental affiliations. 

Hobbs yet side-stepped nan information process, calling it a “political circus.” Committee Chairman Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, sued, forcing Hobbs to scope an statement pinch Republicans to resume sending her picks to nan committee.

After news of Castro’s apprehension came to light, Hoffman said Hobbs’ prime of Brierly to tally nan Department of Agriculture was now a mobility mark.

“It’s nary wonderment Hobbs vetoes each portion of meaningful separator information authorities erstwhile connected her watch her ain authorities worker is being arrested and prosecuted for nan quality smuggling of forbidden aliens,” Hoffman posted to X connected April 25. “As for Brierly, Hobbs’ nominee to lead nan Department of Agriculture, nan Nominations Committee and Senate Republicans had superior doubts astir him already, this profound deficiency of guidance surely won’t fortify his lawsuit earlier nan afloat senate.”