Cops, activists prepare ahead of Ariz. law

[dragonfire]

Cops, activists prepare ahead of Ariz. law

Judge is deciding whether to block immigration measure

by JONATHAN J. COOPER, MICHELLE PRICE

updated 7/27/2010 6:18:49 PM ET

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38436995/ns ... n_divided/

PHOENIX — The sheriff of Arizona's most populous county is making room in a vast outdoor jail and determined to round up illegal immigrants to fill it. Police from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Grand Canyon are getting last-minute training. And protests and marches are planned throughout Phoenix.

Arizona's new immigration law takes effect Thursday, creating a potentially volatile mix of police, illegal immigrants and thousands of activists, many planning to show up without identification as a show of solidarity.

At least one group plans to block access to federal offices, daring officers to ask them their immigration status.

"Our message for that day is: 'Don't comply, don't buy,'" said activist Liz Hourican, whose group, CodePink, plans to block the driveway for immigration offices in downtown Phoenix.

As both sides prepare, a federal judge is deciding whether to step in and block the law. It requires officers enforcing other laws to check a person's immigration status if they suspect the person is in the country illegally. It also bans illegal immigrants from soliciting work in a public place.

Police across the state scrambled on Tuesday to train officers, including on how to avoid racial profiling, and plan for a potential influx of detainees.

'We just do it'
The hardest-line approach is expected in the Phoenix area, where Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio plans his 17th crime and immigration sweep. He plans to hold the sweep, regardless of any ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton.

[uniteasone]

These people are then creating a volatile situation. So if they disrupt everyday processes then they are in violation of other laws. And I hope the police take care of these individuals. This is creating a situation in which rioting could occur and by people that are not even suppose to be here to begin with. If it happens then they will get only what they just deserve.

[Bowman]

At least one group plans to block access to federal offices, daring officers to ask them their immigration status. .

Can you believe how stupid these dolts are. Not having ID is not an indication of immigration status, it's pretty easy to tell when you talk if you were born in the USA or not.

I think AZ should sue the people and organizations behind this to recover their operating costs from having to arrest and process these anti-law people.

[Jean]

There is more to this article, continued below:

Arpaio, known for his tough stance against illegal immigration, plans to send about 200 deputies and volunteers out, looking for traffic violators, people wanted on criminal warrants and others. He's used that tactic before to arrest dozens of people, many of them illegal immigrants.

"We don't wait. We just do it," he said. "If there's a new law out, we're going to enforce it."

He said that the space he made in the complex of military surplus tents can handle 100 people, and that he will find room for more if necessary.

Elsewhere in the state, police officials said they didn't expect any dramatic events. They were busy wrapping up training sessions this week, with some agencies saying that untrained officers will not be allowed on the streets.

Many of the state's 15,000 police officers have been watching a DVD released this month that signs that might indicate a person is an illegal immigrant are speaking poor English, looking nervous or traveling in an overcrowded vehicle. It warned that race and ethnicity do not.

Some agencies added extra materials, including a test, a role-playing exercise or a question-and-answer session with prosecutors.

'Law is poorly constructed'
Critics of the law among police chiefs remain, saying that the law is so vague that no amount of training could eliminate potential confusion.

"Am I going to sit here and say I think every officer has a clear understanding of the law when they leave the training?" Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor said. "No, because I think the law is poorly constructed."

Arizona's law gives police two options to confirm whether a detainee is an illegal immigrant.

Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined to comment on preparations or the role federal authorities would play in enforcing the law, except to say ICE "focuses first on criminal aliens who pose a threat to our communities."

Arpaio vowed to arrest all illegal immigrants and make them spend time in his jail. Other police officials said they'd try to get the Border Patrol involved as often as possible to avoid the time and cost of booking the detainees into jail.

Prosecutors are also preparing for a potential influx of cases. They are reminding officers that they are required to explain the circumstances of the original stop, why they suspected the person was an illegal immigrant and any comments made by the suspect.

[GR]

Sheriff Joe has a tough stance against ALL criminal activities.

You sure wouldn't know that the way that illegal aliens and their pro-illegal alien thugs LIE about him.

Incidentally, almost all illegal aliens ASK Sheriff Joe FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH after he's arrested them.

Because they respect him for how he treats them well, sends them to English classes, tells them a story every night, talks to them like they're regular people, gives them work to do (like growing and preparing their own food, etc), and the like.

Sheriff Joe is one of the really really good guys.