Mar 17th, 2009
Posted by Allie Bohm, Washington Legislative Office at 5:47pm	Immigrants' Rights, Prisoners' Rights

"Sheriff Arpaio Is America's Problem"

"Sheriff Arpaio is not just Arizona's problem; Sheriff Arpaio is America's problem. Arizona has to live with Sheriff Arpaio, but Sheriff Arpaio is America's disgrace," Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) told a room of journalists, immigrants, and advocates at a combination rally and news conference on Wednesday, March 11. The immigrants and advocates had come from as far as Arizona, California, and Florida to deliver petitions to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in support of the investigation of Maricopa County's Sheriff Arpaio for civil rights violations that was announced on March 10. The 30,000 petitioners also called on the judiciary committees of Congress to hold hearings on Arpaio's violations.

The room was locked when attendees arrived and the press conference started late, but everyone — including journalists — waited. And they were rewarded for their patience. Representatives John Conyers (D-Mich.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Grijalva, as well as Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and several immigrants' rights advocates from Arizona addressed the crowd, in English and Spanish, emphasizing the atrocities committed by Arpaio and his deputies as well as the importance federal oversight in this situation.

One advocate described a college-age Latina who was pulled over for allegedly having a broken tail-light while driving home with her mother. She was made to leave her car and was interrogated and harassed. When she ultimately proved that both she and her mother were U.S. citizens, she was dismissed without a citation — because she did not have a broken tail-light. She was pulled over for driving while brown.

While advocates told stories of Latinos targeted, humiliated and mistreated for the color of their skin and of the fear that runs rampant through the Latino communities — among citizens and immigrants alike — the common thread of the press conference was federal responsibility.

The 287(g) program, the program under whose auspices Sheriff Arpaio and other law enforcement officials in 23 states across the country have been granted the authority to enforce federal immigration law, represents the failed outsourcing of federal responsibility for immigration enforcement. As Judiciary Committee Chairman Conyers pointed out, sheriffs are elected to enforce and uphold the law, and they cannot do so by interpreting the law their own ways and using racial profiling to target members of a certain community, as Sheriff Arpaio has done in Arizona. Rep. Grijalva concurred. When law enforcement agents like Arpaio use profiling, violate the civil rights of the people they have sworn to protect, isolate communities of color, and undermine the rule of law all in the name of a federal program, it becomes a federal issue.

It becomes an issue of what kind of nation we want to be. If the U.S. is to remain a nation governed by the rule of law, we cannot allow local sheriffs to make their own laws. If the U.S. is to remain a country that strives toward American values of justice, we cannot allow local sheriffs to target people based on the color of their skin. If local sheriffs are using the 287(g) program, and other similar programs, to justify horrific behavior, the federal government must reassert its authority by ending the programs. As Chairman Conyers pointed out, Sheriff Arpaio is not just a rogue sheriff. Violations of the rule of law and cases of racial profiling in the name of local immigration enforcement happen across the country, from Tennessee to North Carolina to California, and (almost) everywhere in between.

The Department of Justice's investigation of Sheriff Arpaio is a good first step, but as Rep. Nadler emphasized, it is only a first step. Press conference attendees were gratified to hear that Congress will be taking the next step toward ending what Rep. Nadler called a "reign of terror" by local law enforcement. At the press conference, Chairman Conyers announced that the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittees on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties; Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law; and Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will be holding joint hearings on local enforcement of federal immigration law. We welcome these hearings and hope that they will be a stepping stone to abolishing the 287(g) program and all programs like it.

Permalink |	Immigrants' Rights, Prisoners' Rights

1. Anonymous Says:
   Mar 17th, 2009 at 7:50pm

   This sheriff is not only the BEST law enforcement man in America, he should be in the WHITE HOUSE in lieu of B.O. (Barack Hussein Obama to you left Marxist creeps).

2. Vic Livingston Says:
   Mar 18th, 2009 at 12:50am

   CONNECT THE DOTS:

   WHAT DOES SHERIFF ARPAIO KNOW ABOUT GPS-ENABLED ORGANIZED COMMUNITY GANG STALKING BY "THE AMERICAN GESTAPO"...

   ...AND WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS?

   While the manufactured economic crisis effectuates the fleecing of the middle class by the clever plotting of the power elite, and manufactured controversies distract the masses from the root causes of this global transfer of wealth...

   ...freedom also is being stolen from the people; but the mainstream media "watchdogs" are too busy chasing the manufactured tale of the day to notice who's making off out the back door with the coin of liberty.

   TEAM OBAMA: WHAT DO YOUR BUSH HOLDOVERS KNOW ABOUT THESE SECURITY-INTEL-REVENUE 'MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATED ACTIONS'...

   * Silent, covert microwave radiation weapons (D.E.W.) assaults on innocent but "targeted" U.S. citizens;

   * Terroristic vigilante community gang stalking, surreptitious home entry, police-tolerated vandalism;

   * Secret federal "programs of personal financial destruction" that have used the IRS as an ideological tool of "social cleansing."

   http://www.nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-fun ded-vigilante-network-terrorizes-america
   http://www.nowpublic.com/world/domestic-torture-radiation-weaponry- americas-horrific-shame

   OR (if links are corrupted / disabled):

   http://www.NowPublic.com/scrivener

3. Paen Says:
   Mar 19th, 2009 at 1:19pm

   I wonder how many real crimes happen while sherrif Arpaio is harrassing Hispanics.

4. Mike Says:
   Mar 19th, 2009 at 6:44pm

   This man not only desearves a medal, but should be paid to teach other law enforcement groups how to handle the crime associated with illegal aliens. Look at the numbers people. Crime in his jurisdiction is half what it used to be, at a time when border crime is up almost 200% elsewhere. Get off his ass and let him do the correct job that liberal a-hole are not allowed to do elsewhere.

   Oh, and Vic,
   If you are in a gang and are committing gang related crimes, then I hope you are harassed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until you quit or kill yourself. No mercy for the vermin of society. Abolish the ACLU!

5. Steve Says:
   Mar 21st, 2009 at 1:46pm

   Fuck you worthless ACLU cocksuckers!!!! This Sheriff should be running the country instead of that muslim nigger terrorist!!!

6. Jeff Peterson Says:
   Mar 25th, 2009 at 6:01pm

   I hope there are enough people to stand up againt this Facist administration. "WE THE PEOPLE" "LIVE FREE OR DIE"

7. Jeff Peterson Says:
   Mar 25th, 2009 at 6:20pm

   Sherrif Arpaio is a true American. He is there to protect the constitution. He is following is oath to defend against all Enemies foreign or domestic. “LIVE FREE OR DIE”

8. Barbara Says:
   Apr 6th, 2009 at 4:14pm

   It is about time someone has the backbone to take on the ACLU. I feel instead of letting all the people have the rights they have in prison; they should be sent to the army services. Let them shot, kill, and break in homes in the countries we are fighting. Lets see then hove brave they are. There is people how work and live a life outside of prison who can not aford the things the prions are getting. Take my tax dollars and help the good ones not the ones who have given up the rights by breaking the law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. StopUSAGiveaway Says:
   Apr 10th, 2009 at 2:02am

   GANGS have taken over--
   Where are the gangs from?
   MS-13!
   How did they become so dominate that they can rape, rob and run back and forth from north to south?
   So those stating racial profiling: the next time you are your neighbors have a home invasion or someone shot coming home from high school activities perhaps you can ask yourself what you have done to aid and abett?
   Do UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU
   as One Nation Under GOD
   This nation did not become a nation by race,color or special treatment.
   But it will cease for the same.
   Double standards, complainers and special treatment for one groups while others must be responsible breeds chaos.

10. StopUSAGiveaway Says:
    Apr 10th, 2009 at 2:05am

    PS Those wanting to dominate the WORLD appreciate those at the bottom who fight to prevent laws from being enforced because it keeps the citizens from stopping elites from taking away rights from law abiding citizens everywhere.
    Live by the law or die

11. TooMuchTime Says:
    Apr 17th, 2009 at 10:16pm

    Sheriff Arpaio is my HERO! Prisons and jails are not supposed a fun and comfortable place to be. Isn't that kind of like sending the wrong message?

    Go Steve!

12. Bill Says:
    May 2nd, 2009 at 3:25pm

    Doesn`t anyone wonder why Washinton wants the border open? Someone with a lot of power is making some serious cash. We now have a flu that is causing school closures, but the borders are still open. This is serious B.S. People are being murdered on our door step and the border is open. We have lost all of our manufactureing and the border remains open. That sheriff is King in my book.

13. Andrew Says:
    May 7th, 2009 at 10:19am

    Why are we worried about treating criminals with rights. If you commit a crime then you pay the price, part of that payment is loss of rights like freedom. I think that Sheriff Arpaio has the right idea. Their living conditions are no worse than the living conditions of a marine fighting for our freedom. Now I know some of you are going to say that it was that Marines choice to enlist in the military, and you are right, it is also that criminals choice to commit the crime that got them in trouble with Sheriff Arpaio in the first place.

14. Dan Ouellette Says:
    May 21st, 2009 at 12:53am

    Sheriff Joe Arpaio should have been promoted to Homeland Security Chief before Janet Napalitano. Maybe then we would have border states that are safe to live in.

    Keep in mind, Arpaio has been re-elected how many times by the people he protects?

15. cindy Says:
    Jun 8th, 2009 at 6:17pm

    We need more TRUE AMERICANS in possitions that make a differance in this country like Sheriff Joe Arpaio. It's the ACLU, The liberal lawyers and politicians that have sent our down the wrong path! IN GOD WE TRUST, GIVE ME LIBERTY, our constitutional rights are being swept away before our eyes by these creeps!

16. Grand Rapids MI Says:
    Jun 15th, 2009 at 3:06pm

    I wish there were more Government officials with Joe's good common sense on fixing problems! I think - no - I KNOW Our problems in Michigan would be less if Joe was in charge here!
    I feel Sheriff Joe will go into American History books as a true America Patriot.
    Put Sheriff Joe Arpaio on a ticket with The Ten commandments Judge (see video>) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMGa_-Z655I Then we'd have someone to vote in to run our country!

17. Cindy H. Says:
    Jun 28th, 2009 at 12:30am

    I believe in legal immigrants but what gives illegal immigrants the right to have protection. I am sick and tired of you dumb asses protecting people who should have no rights. You are mad about water boarding but your not mad about our people being beheaded. I hope you idiots can sleep at night. With any luck maybe one of your family members will expire at the hands of your illegal immigrants or the terrorists you are trying to protect. Move out of my country!!!!!! Sheriff Joe please run for President.

18. Anonymous Says:
    Jul 2nd, 2009 at 2:44pm

    Sheriff Joe represents the exact Constitutional service of the sheriff;s office. If any of you ACLU ass wipes know the law, then you know that in the Mack/Printz vs. USA the Supreme Court ruled that the States or their subdivisions are not subject to federal direction as per the 10th amendment that allocates all laws not SPECIFICALLY granted to the federal government are reserved to the sates. I hope all Sheriffs in all jursidictions take note of this American heros efforts to execute his oath of office to serve and protect AMERICAN citizens and uphold and enforce CONSTITUTIONAL laws!

19. I agree with this... Says:
    Aug 4th, 2009 at 8:22pm

    Sheriff Joe Arpaio should have been promoted to Homeland Security Chief before Janet Napalitano. Maybe then we would have border states that are safe to live in.

20. astroturf Says:
    Oct 12th, 2009 at 10:05pm

    more power to sheriff Arpaio, maybe he should run for president he would be 100% better than what we have now.

21. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 2:44pm

    These People at ACLU have got to be criminals also WHY WOULD AN AMERICAN PROTECT TRASH LIKE a NASTY WETBACK the Latino Race should be ashamed of mating with Buffalos & producing the nasty Wetback!!!

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