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October 18, 2009
Sheriff Arpaio Sweeps for Illegals, Thumbs Nose at Feds
Posted by The MaryHunter at October 18, 2009 9:20 PM
Just like he said he would, Sheriff Joe Apraio is setting the standard for illegal immigration law enforcement, even it if means defying the feds.
SURPRISE — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for cracking down on people in the country illegally, launched a crime-and-immigration sweep in northwestern metro Phoenix Friday, half a day after officials in Washington limited his powers to make federal immigration arrests.
Arpaio, whose sweeps have led to allegations of racial profiling, said the rebuff from Washington won't stop him. He said he can still arrest immigrants under a state smuggling law and a federal law that gives all local police agencies more limited power to detain suspected illegal immigrants.
"It doesn't bother me, because we are going to do the same thing," said Arpaio, whose deputies had arrested 16 people by Friday evening on unspecified charges. "I am the elected sheriff. I don't take orders from the federal government."
Also, no surprise:
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Arpaio's office over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures.
"He is doing this to thumb his nose at the Obama administration," said Lydia Guzman, president of the Hispanic civil rights group Somos America.
Well, thank goodness we have that clear. But at what cost are Sheriff Arpaio's sweeps? Some say:
The sweeps have discouraged some Hispanics who have witnessed or been victims of crime from calling Arpaio's deputies, for fear of mistreatment, Guzman said.
And yet, if you're in this country legally, what the heck would you have to worry about? All Sheriff Joe and his colleagues are trying to do is enforce immigration law -- something that the Federal Government has shown it is unwilling to do.
Sheriff Arpaio has more integrity in his little fingernail than Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder, and B. Hussein Obama and all their "law enforcement" minions, combined.
America's Law Enforcement Officer in Chief
