Arizona town's residents seek to HEAL a rift after their mayor protests sheriff's IMMIGRATION raid

Small town left vulnerable

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Los Angeles Times
Oct. 15, 2008, 11:27PM

GUADALUPE, ARIZ. — Six months ago, this town of 5,500 took a stand against the state's most powerful lawman.

As Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and deputies swept through town during a controversial search for illegal immigrants, Mayor Rebecca Jimenez confronted the 76-year-old sheriff and told him he wasn't wanted.

The town, founded by Yaqui Indians a century ago, became a symbol of a grass-roots rejection of Arpaio's tough anti-immigration tactics. But Guadalupe is having second thoughts.

After the confrontation, Arpaio canceled his contract to patrol the 1-square-mile town, forcing officials to search for another law-enforcement agency to protect Guadalupe.

Jimenez, 36, was replaced as mayor, and the city's new leaders are trying to persuade Arpaio to return.

"This town really does need him," said Janice LaBorin, 25, a home health-care worker. "There are too many criminals and little gangbangers here."

Plenty of people still want Arpaio out, but among others, defiance has given way to contrition.

Jimenez "took the wrong tactic," said Lupita Llamas, the owner of two Mexican restaurants in a mostly empty shopping arcade. Arpaio is "a powerful person. You have to talk to him carefully."

The rift between Guadalupe and the sheriff began April 3, when Arpaio brought his anti-illegal immigrant sweep to the parking lot of the Family Dollar store.

The two-day operation was one of several Arpaio has launched across Maricopa County ostensibly to stop crime but also to identify illegal immigrants.

Arpaio, who calls himself the "toughest sheriff in America," has taken the aggressive position that he can arrest and deport illegal immigrants even if they have committed no serious crimes.

Residents complained that deputies were stopping anyone who looked Hispanic, which is basically the entire town. Guadalupe is 51 percent Hispanic and 49 percent American Indian, according to census figures.

Jimenez confronted Arpaio at the store. "You came here under false pretenses," she said.

"I came here to protect your community from crime," Arpaio replied, walking away. "If you don't like the way we operate, you get your own police department."

Two weeks later, Arpaio sent Jimenez a letter notifying her that he would cancel the contract because it now appeared that Guadalupe, which had been patrolled by the department for 20 years, would not let him enforce all state laws.

The county supervisors approved the cancellation in September, giving Guadalupe six months to find another agency.

The town soon discovered that finding a replacement was not so easy. Other cities said their police budgets were too strapped to step in.

As the search for a replacement law-enforcement agency wore on, some residents fretted about their safety.

Jimenez, who said she never asked Arpaio to stop policing Guadalupe, was ousted for reasons unrelated to the confrontation. She remains on the town council but was replaced as mayor by Frankie Montiel, who vowed not to question Arpaio.

The town's effort to make up with Arpaio has disheartened some residents.

"We shouldn't beg," said Gabe Felix, 43, a Yaqui and an Army veteran who was detained during the sheriff's sweep. "We've always been a proud race. Never been beaten. Never been put in a reservation."

Arpaio said he has given the town ample time to find a replacement by warning of the cancellation in April and not giving formal notice until September.

Even if another agency patrols the city, he said his deputies still would be free to round up illegal immigrants there.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pol ... 60917.html