MESA, Ariz. — A raid on two busy water parks and the arrest of nine workers suspected of being illegal immigrants might become the first case to test Arizona’s new employer sanctions law.
The law, which went into effect in January, carries penalties that suspend or revoke business licenses of employers who “knowingly” hire illegal immigrants. It has yet to result in a prosecution.
The raid, which was carried out on Tuesday by Maricopa County deputies, followed a four-month investigation of hiring practices at the water parks, Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa and Waterworld Safari in Phoenix, said the Maricopa County sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Both parks are owned by Golfland Entertainment Centers, which is based here and operates three parks in Arizona and six in California.
Deputies arrested the workers on charges of suspicion of identity theft and using forged documents to obtain employment.
The authorities also used search warrants to seize personnel records, which they will use to investigate whether a violation of the employer sanctions law occurred, Sheriff Arpaio said.
The director of marketing for the parks, Dave Johnson, said Golfland executives were not worried about a follow-up investigation. “We don’t think we have anything to hide,” he said.
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