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Title: Arizona's illegal immigrant crackdown inspired by 'America's toughest sheriff'
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Published: Apr 29, 2010
Author: Tom Leonard
Post Date: 2010-04-29 21:25:36 by Flintlock
Keywords: None
Views: 434
Comments: 15
A controversial sheriff who inspired Arizona's new immigration rules risked provoking more anger on Thursday as he launched a new sweep on crime and illegal immigrants. Joe Arpaio, dubbed "America's toughest sheriff'" has risked provoking more anger as he launched a new sweep on crime and illegal immigrants after saying he would concentrate on high-crime areas, targeting immigrant smugglers and the houses where they hide their customers. The sheriff of Maricopa County, which includes the sprawling city of Phoenix, has already conducted 14 so-called "crime suppression" sweeps since 2008. Critics have complained that the sweeps invariably take place in Hispanic areas and they have accused his deputies of racially profiling Hispanics while conducting them. He has countered that people stopped by the patrols were approached simply because officers had probable cause to believe they had committed crimes. Mr Arpaio - who is being investigated by the Justice Department for alleged civil rights abuses - has never seemed concerned by what his critics say and has still been voted back in as sheriff five times. His popularity is widely believed to have inspired Janet Brewer, Arizona's governor and a politician fighting for re-election, to sign the new state-wide immigration bill which has sparked protests across America. The new law requires local and state law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are in the country illegally. It also makes it a state crime to be in the US illegally. The law has prompted outrage and calls for a boycott of Arizona on grounds the rules are unconstitutional, racist and will encourage police to stop people simply because they are Hispanic. Critics of Mr Arpaio, 77, says he is already implementing the law - in spirit at least. Mr Arpaio, an Italian-American, first attracted controversy when he set up a tent city as an extension of the county jail, forcing inmates to wear pink underwear and live in temperatures of up to 110F (43C). He has also re-instituted chain gangs, including ones for women, and set up civilian posses. It is already a felony crime in Arizona to smuggle illegal aliens across the border and Mr Arpaio freely admits he has ordered his deputies and posse members to arrest illegal aliens. He told the Washington Times: "My message is clear: if you come here and I catch you, you're going straight to jail I'm not going to turne these people over to federal authorities so they can have a free ride back to Mexico." Mr Arpaio has supported the state's new immigration law, saying it will help him in his work, particularly in being able to detain undocumented residents who were not accused of committing other crimes. The Arizona law is also proving popular with some conservatives. Debbie Riddle, a Texas congressman, said she would introduce a similar measure next year and Republicans running for governor in Colorado and Minnesota expressed support.
Poster Comment: Go get'em Joe!
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#1. To: Flintlock (#0)
I believe that the sheriff that stood up for the 10th Amendment is the toughest actually.
Naw....
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestJoe Arpaio, dubbed "America's toughest sheriff'"
#4. To: farmfriend (#1)
Mack ......
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