Immigrants' activists hopeful about hearing Wednesday

by Jim Cross/KTAR (March 2nd, 2009 @ 6:45am)

Policy >>

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The federal program that allows Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdown on illegal immigration will be the subject of a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano, former Arizona governor, will preside over the hearing.

Arpaio's crackdown continues to generate controversy in the Valley. Thousands of people hit the streets over the weekend to call for an end to the policy that allows deputies to enforce immigration laws.

Immigrants' activist and former Arizona lawmaker Alfredo Gutierrez expressed hope that the new administration in Washington will pull the plug on the sheriff's campaign against illegal immigrants.

Gutierrez said activists will continue to work through the courts and, "Because of the Obama Administration, because of Secretary Holder, we are very confident."

Another activist, Salvador Reza, said indiscriminate sweeps by the sheriff and racial profiling must come to an end.

"In the areas of brown people, population, it's no longer going to be tolerated," Reza said. "The segregation and humiliation of prisoners is no longer going to be tolerated."

An end to the sheriff's crackdowns "would be good for the administration, it would be good for the country, it would be good for the economy in the long run," Reza said.

Shannon Rivers of the Gila River Indian Reservation was among those who marched nearly four miles in downtown Phoenix on Saturday to protest the sheriff and the federal program.

"It's a great cause," Rivers said. "We have Joe Arpaio, who seems to be creating a lot of fear in our community, especially against people of color."

Rivers added, "Basically, what he's doing is illegal. He can't be doing that -- arresting people for simply busted taillights or maybe even racial profiling. I hope that now things will change."

Arpaio was undaunted by the protests and the looming federal hearing.

"I've said it over and over again. Even if they take away that federal authority, it doesn't matter," the sheriff said. "I'm still enforcing two state laws."

Arpaio added, "If they want to change the laws, I naturally won't enforce it if there are no laws. As long as there are laws, this sheriff will enforce them, including the employer sanctions."

Concerning the hearing, he said, "If they want to use me as a poster boy across the nation, my message is, 'We're not backing down.'"

Last 5 Comments

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  To Make

  Patrick H

  To make a long story short, they are protesting the fact that they DON'T WANT JOE TO DO HIS JOB!!! That is what they are protesting!!! They want him to turn a blind eye to this INVASION like other law enforcement agencies have done. What's next??? Protesting him for arresting ILLEGALS WHO ARE CAUGHT BRING DRUGS INTO THIS COUNTRY??? All LAWS are to BE ENFORCED according to the oaths every law enforcement officer takes!!! But These People Think That They Shouldn't Apply To Them!!! Because they can get Mexican Police agencies to turn their heads they feel it should happen here too. WE ARE NOT MEXICO!!! WE HAVE INTEGRITY!!! AND EVERY LAW WILL BE ENFORCED UNTIL LEGALLY CHANGED BY OUR LEGAL PROCESS!!! Joe is causing them problems!!! That is why they have put a bounty on his life!!! We may not agree with some of our laws but we go about peaceful legal change not murder for hire. I'm sure Janet will allow this country to continue to be invaded, because she didn't do ANYTHING to try to stop it when she was the Governor!!!

  5206
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  LaRaza Does NOT Run This Country

  Chantal

  I enjoin with those who are investigating legal venues to have Luis Gutierrez, Robert Menendez and others in Congress, who are paid to represent Americans and not devote 100% of their time as front people for LaRaza, removed from office. When illegal aliens relentlessly attempt to change our laws to accommodate their lawlessness and interfere with elected/appointed officials in the performance of their jobs, they are guilty of anarchy. These radicals have taken up too much of our time, too much of law enforcement's efforts, and far too much of our tax dollars. It is time to take legal measures to ensure this attempted take-over of America stops and we regain control of our cities, towns, and country.

  5185
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Carmelo 10

  Cookie

  I had to laugh out loud when I read your post. The monster that lives in Maricopa County!! Really! Pro-illegal alien activists claim racism at every turn and are the ones who are spreading hate! There is no hate towards legal immigrants. The key word is LEGAL...now how many times have you heard that?? The sheriff is only enforcing our immigration laws that are now on the books...in other words he is doing his job that he was elected to do! You need to re-read your post and read between the lines of the hate towards law-abiding citizens!

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  The Problem With Sheriff Joe

  Buzz M

  is that we only have one of him. If it was up to me, I would put him in charge of the DHS, and within six months we would have the U.S. cleared of all the illegals. ALL ILLEGALS NEED TO GO!!! Maybe Sheriff Joe could build large tent city along the border and have the apprehended illegals, clean up the border, build the fence, and do odd jobs, during their five year period of incaceration for entering our country illegally.

  5085
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  All I have to say is read it and weep!!!!!!!

  Peter G

  "I've said it over and over again. Even if they take away that federal authority, it doesn't matter," the sheriff said. "I'm still enforcing two state laws."

  5082
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