Thread: Sheriff Joe, the U.S. lawman who put prisoners in chain gang

Sheriff Joe, the U.S. lawman who put prisoners in chain gangs, is under fire for arresting Hispanics as illegal immigrants

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:35 PM on 19th June 2008

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:35 PM on 19th June 2008

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Hardline: Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Frustrated by a steady flow of illegal Mexican immigrants into Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio has decided to take matters into his own hands.


He has drawn support and opposition in equal measure for his treatment of prisoners, which includes re-introducing chain gangs and making prisoners wear pink underwear.


Now he's under fire for dispatching teams of sheriff's deputies into Hispanic communities where they stop people and arrest anyone who cannot prove he or she is a legal U.S. resident.


It has brought an onslaught of criticism from Hispanic activists, local lawmakers and the Phoenix mayor, who call his crackdown on immigrants a clear case of racial profiling in which only people who look Hispanic are targeted.


But Sheriff Joe in unmoved.

'What right does a mayor or a police chief, or anyone like that, have to tell me what my priorities are?' Arpaio said.


'I'm the elected sheriff. I tell them what their priorities are.'


But Mary Rose Wilcox, a county supervisor and longtime Hispanic activist said: 'All he is doing is going after everybody with a brown face.'


'There's no doubt in my mind that this is racial profiling. None.'


Across the country, state and local officials have taken steps to curb illegal immigration. More than 240 immigration-related measures were passed last year.


Arpaio says he has received an outpouring of support for his effort in the form of letters and donations of about $25,000 from the public to help fund the initiative.


Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said the sheriff's 'made-for-TV stunts' have not stopped illegal immigration and violate the basic civil rights afforded all people in the United States.


'It's a single standard,' Gordon said. 'If you're brown, you're going to be pulled over, and if you're white, you're not. It's as simple as that.'


Tough regime: One Sheriff Arpai's infamous chain gangs

Under the U.S. Constitution, all citizens must be treated equally under the law and the government cannot conduct unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause.


In April, Gordon sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General calling for an investigation into Arpaio's patrols.


U.S. Justice Department officials are 'monitoring the situation', department spokeswoman Jamie Hais said. She declined to be more specific.


Immigration, specifically what do about 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, is a divisive issue, but it has largely dropped out of the political debate this election year.

A bid to push a comprehensive immigration overhaul through Congress was nixed by Republican lawmakers last year and the issue is barely mentioned by Republican presidential candidate John McCain or Democratic rival Barack Obama, who both supported the U.S. Senate bill.


In the absence of federal action, states and localities are beginning to take action.
Despite criticism, Arpaio has vowed to continue his patrols and other measures designed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.


'They just don't want me enforcing the illegal immigration laws. They think they can intimidate me. They can't,' said Arpaio, a Republican, who is running for re-election in November.


Gordon said Arpaio should spend his time and limited resources pursuing other more serious criminals like drug and human traffickers, and violent criminals.


The mayor said Arpaio's tactics have not reduced crime in the region or curbed illegal immigration. Instead, Gordon says the sheriff has soured community relations and sparked fear among Hispanic citizens and immigrants.


'His Band-Aid publicity stunts aren't going to solve illegal immigration,' he said. 'It doesn't do anything to stop the flow. All it does is make for good TV.'

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Keep up the work Sheriff Joe you have a lot of people who are going to support you and stay with you.
They are mad because Joe is DOING HIS job, other like some people who are letting these people come here and run like savages.
This Mary Rose is a totally waste of time, she is crying because she would like to see every brownie get to run, here free. And get all the freebies these people can get there hands on.
BS. They have done nothing but give Sheriff Joe a hard time, because he wants to enforce the LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
And these people cant stand it. They dont want the laws, and they dont think they apply to them, so they can basically come over here and do whatever the hell they want to without any kind of punishment for being over here ILLEGALLY. If we where to go over to messican, we would have to have proper IDS and we could not demand everything given to us on a silver platter. these people think the world owes them and that we have to pull out the red carpet for these illegals.


KOOBSTER