http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... st-ON.html







William Hermann
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 16, 2006 11:09 AM


Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was nonplussed when the crowd he expected protesting his policy of arresting illegal immigrants turned out to be seven people.

"Where's the big protest?" Arpaio asked to folks holding signs at his downtown Phoenix offices. Phoenix Copwatch spokesman Sean Whitcomb said most members were working.

"But we're here to say you're misusing the law meant to go after immigrant smugglers," Whitcomb said.

In August, Arizona legislators passed an anti-human-smuggling statute. Later, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said undocumented immigrants suspected of paying coyotes could be prosecuted as conspirators.

Arpaio said Thomas' decision was all he needed.

"I have the right to enforce the law; you have the right to protest," Arpaio said. "And I arrest more illegal immigrants each day than you have protesters."

Email this article Click to send
Print this article Choose File Print or Ctrl P or Apple P
Most popular pages Today | This Week