Thread: Sheriff Teaches Illiegal Immigrants "God Bless America&

http://www.wxii12.com/politics/10157317/detail.html

Sheriff: Teach Illegal Immigrants 'God Bless America'

POSTED: 4:16 pm EDT October 25, 2006
UPDATED: 4:32 pm EDT October 25, 2006

PHOENIX -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is offering basic English classes to inmates who don't speak the language and might make it a requirement if prisoners stop volunteering for the courses.

He said the inability of some inmates to speak the language has caused problems for his jail officers and even prompted complaints from English-speaking prisoners.

The leader of an immigrant advocacy group said the sheriff wasn't so interested in teaching people English as using illegal immigrants to draw attention to himself at a time when border woes a political priority.


Arpaio, who said he isn't seeking re-election this year, said inmates are so eager to learn English that there's a waiting list for the two-week courses, which began Monday.

The sheriff said the aim is to teach the non-English speakers about America's three branches of government, the criminal justice system and communicating their health and safety needs to jail officers.

He also wants to teach them to sing "God Bless America," a song that the sheriff had ordered to be played each morning in his jails.