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PHOENIX — Federal agents will start deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiring to commit human smuggling, ending a dispute with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department over jurisdiction.

Wednesday's agreement means sheriff's deputies no longer will be tied up transporting to the border undocumented immigrants convicted of conspiracy under the state's human-smuggling statute.

It comes after months of wrangling and complaints from Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Gov. Janet Napolitano, who have chided Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Arizona and accused them of being uncooperative in the fight against illegal immigration.

Until now, federal agents have refused to transport people prosecuted under the state's human-smuggling law on the grounds that only federal officials have the authority to determine whether someone is in the country illegally.

So far, Arpaio said, deputies have made 27 trips and transported 61 undocumented immigrants arrested under the smuggling law.

Arpaio's department is the only local law-enforcement agency in Arizona arresting illegal entrants under the state statute.

An ICE spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday that from now on, agents would transport illegal entrants convicted under the smuggling law.

Arpaio said he believes ICE agents should be transporting all undocumented immigrants arrested under the human smuggling statute, regardless of whether they are convicted or not.

Deputies have released 108 entrants arrested under the human-smuggling law from Maricopa County's jails because agents have refused to pick them up, according to Arpaio.

That includes 16 people convicted under the law.