House Judiciary Committee Calls for Federal Investigation of Sheriff Arpaio’s Abuses

America's Voice Blog

Posted 02/13/09 at 11:32am

Conyers Note: cross-posted at the Huffington Post.

We couldn't be happier to hear that the U.S. House Judiciary Committee released a letter today calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a federal investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's enforcement tactics. Ever since he landed his own reality TV show, we've been arguing for Joe to get the attention he really deserves-- an investigation by the DOJ.

Kudos to Chairman Conyers (D-MI), and other members of the Committee, for publicly speaking out against Arpaio's tactics, and for demanding the same. The letter begins:

Dear Attorney General Holder and Secretary Napolitano:

We write today concerning allegations of misconduct on the part of Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio that we believe merit federal investigation and action.

In a press statement today, Conyers argues:

"Racial profiling and segregation are simply not acceptable." said Conyers. "Media stunts and braggadocio are no substitute for fair and effective law enforcement."

The Judiciary Committee also asks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review the agreement that DHS has signed with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which Joe has so roundly abused. Report after report has shown that Sheriff Arpaio regularly engages in racial profiling in Latino neighborhoods. It's part of the reason he has 2,700 lawsuits filed against him.

For his latest publicity stunt, Arpaio paraded immigrant detainees through the streets of Phoenix in order to segregate and relocate them to a "Tent City" surrounded by electric fencing. The 287 (g) agreement gives the Sheriff authority to enforce federal immigration laws, but it does not provide permission to use racial profiling or other tactics that violate an individual's constitutional rights.

It does not give one the right to create mini-Gitmos.

The Joe Arpaio approach to law enforcement is un-American and ineffective -- not to mention expensive. Joe's actions are the perfect example of why local enforcement of federal immigration law is inherently flawed, and they point to the increasing need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Arpaio is a modern day Bull Connor and his publicity-seeking crusades have made the Latino community scared and Maricopa County less safe by prioritizing racial profiling over executing the felony warrants that have piled up on his desk. His most recent scheme, rounding up immigrants and shipping them off to separate "tent cities," is just the latest in a career filled with dangerous and anti-Latino demagoguery.

Thankfully, Chairman Conyers, and other members of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives, will be able to catalog the range of abuses he has heaped on the residents of Maricopa County and will hopefully bring long-awaited justice against a man who doesn't appear to understand the word.

By Frank Sharry
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Great post, Arizona sheriff Joe “Arpaio” that we believe merit federal investigation and action, i dont know why, nice work keep it up.

07-21-09 By Dissertation Topics

This has to be done!

07-28-09 By white teeth

Thanks a lot for sharing first of all, i am UK stuff member i recently come to your blog its excellent keep it up.
Thanks

08-13-09 By UK dissertation(London)

Excellent work every buddy can get lots of interesting information, keep on posting this type of brilliant articles.

08-13-09 By UK dissertation help(london)

Keep up the good work Joe, the real America is
backing you. Ignore these left wing radicals,every
state and city should have a sheriff Joe!

10-13-09 By Barney(USA)

Good afternoon. A physicist is an atom’s way of knowing about atoms.
I am from Zealand and also now teach English, give true I wrote the following sentence: “Time 7: the administrator shall sell a masochism to include city and shall know a least actively to the governing body the agents of the land.”

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10-18-09 By Homestead tax exemption(Oklahoma)

Hello,
The article is good enough to read the whole thing. I liked the way you have stated the issue here.

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11-19-09 By Professional Business Plan

well its soo good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was not any proper resource, thanx now i have the thing which i was looking for my research.

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12-29-09 By Dissertation Proposal(UK)

Anyone who has 2,700 lawsuits filed against them deserves to have some kind of investigation into the allegations. Wow the TV show has really backfired on him.

01-29-10 By conversion vans for sale(London)

Perhaps Arpaio will have the chance to experience his tent city from the other side of the chain link, He deserves it! And Prioarato, Illega immigrants are not felons. Illegal entry is a civil misdemeanor, nothing more. And don’t waste your time with your anti talking points to the contrary. They’ve all been debunked and nobody is interested.