Thread: Immigrants' Activists Hopeful About Arpaio Hearing Wednesday

Immigrants' activists hopeful about hearing Wednesday
March 2nd, 2009 @ 7:45am
by Jim Cross/KTAR

The federal program that allows Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdown on illegal immigration will be the subject of a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano, former Arizona governor, will preside over the hearing.

Arpaio's crackdown continues to generate controversy in the Valley. Thousands of people hit the streets over the weekend to call for an end to the policy that allows deputies to enforce immigration laws.

Immigrants' activist and former Arizona lawmaker Alfredo Gutierrez expressed hope that the new administration in Washington will pull the plug on the sheriff's campaign against illegal immigrants.

Gutierrez said activists will continue to work through the courts and, "Because of the Obama Administration, because of Secretary Holder, we are very confident."

Another activist, Salvador Reza, said indiscriminate sweeps by the sheriff and racial profiling must come to an end.

"In the areas of brown people, population, it's no longer going to be tolerated," Reza said. "The segregation and humiliation of prisoners is no longer going to be tolerated."

An end to the sheriff's crackdowns "would be good for the administration, it would be good for the country, it would be good for the economy in the long run," Reza said.

Shannon Rivers of the Gila River Indian Reservation was among those who marched nearly four miles in downtown Phoenix on Saturday to protest the sheriff and the federal program.

"It's a great cause," Rivers said. "We have Joe Arpaio, who seems to be creating a lot of fear in our community, especially against people of color."

Rivers added, Basically, what he's doing is illegal. He can't be doing that -- arresting people for simply busted taillights or maybe even racial profiling. I hope that now things will change."

Arpaio was undaunted by the protests and the looming federal hearing.

"I've said it over and over again. Even if they take away that federal authority, it doesn't matter," the sheriff said. "I'm still enforcing two state laws."

Arpaio added, "If they want to change the laws, I naturally won't enforce it if there are no laws. As long as there are laws, this sheriff will enforce them, including the employer sanctions."

Concerning the hearing, he said, "If they want to use me as a poster boy across the nation, my message is, 'We're not backing down.'"

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1095073

Below is contact information for Secretary Napolitano:

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
202-282-8010

The only ones complaining are the illegal invader activists! Why is Napolitano placating these people with a hearing! This woman is supposed to be protecting this country from illegal immigration, not holding hearings to scrutinize a law enforcement officer who is doing his job!

These pro-illegal alien, anti-American worker zealots are advocating anarchy, while the DC elites enable them.

Furthermore, why is Napolitano wasting her time at this show hearing? We have foreign gangs now starting to terrorize American communities, and she trying to intimidate a sheriff who is trying to protect us.

This is upside down.

She should be worried about the violence at the border instead of doing just what Obama said he wouldn't do "Pander to special Interest groups" another promise down the drain.

ENFORCE THE LAWS JANET!!!!!!


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If these so-called people of color are here legally, and have not committed any crimes, then they have nothing to fear.
And what makes these people feel they should be treated any better than the American population who also lives in tents, wears pink and eats baloney sandwiches?

Its my understanding that there wernt thousands marching. They can have 2 people show up and turn it into thousands. Amazing

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano, former Arizona governor, will preside over the hearing.

Why? The Director of Homeland Security should know that immigration laws must be enforced. Americans demand that our immigration laws be enforced. No special treatment for anyone, including "brown" people.

Why is Napolitano placating these people with a hearing!

Because of her last Name!