Thread: Joe Arpaio, immigrant students meet over Arizona law

Joe Arpaio, immigrant students meet over Arizona law

JJ Hensley - Jun. 1, 2010 12:45 PM
The Arizona Republic

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's met on Tuesday with a group of college students protesting America's immigration laws - a discussion that produced tears, hugs and laughter.

But it's likely little will change on either side of the immigration debate after the feel-good get-together.

Arpaio said he is compassionate toward the plight of undocumented immigrants but that he will continue to enforce the immigration laws that are on the books.

"I was elected to do a job," Arpaio said. "My job overrides my compassion."

Arpaio cast himself as a dutiful servant of what legislators want and suggested the students approach members of Congress if they want those laws to change.

Gaby Pacheco, 25, instead asked Arpaio to become an ally with supporters of immigration reform in the hopes that a high-profile law-enforcement official like Arpaio would carry more weight than a handful of college students.

Pacheco tried appealing to Arpaio's softer side before giving the self-proclaimed America's Toughest Sheriff a hug at the end of the 45-minute meeting.

"We went up there and showed our humanity to a person who for many years has been criminalizing our communities," Pacheco said after the meeting. "We must make sure that we allow for him as a brother who has been strayed away to come into the light."

The activists all said they were brought into the United States illegally as children but touted their contributions to the community and commitment to continue their college educations.

The five student activists came to Arizona as part of the protests that took place during Memorial Day Weekend, which drew thousands of marchers to downtown Phoenix.

The students began their journey walking from Miami to Washington, D.C., where they met with law enforcement officials and political leaders along the way.

Juan Rodriguez, 21, a native of Colombia, told Arpaio how law enforcement officials on the East Coast described immigrants in their communities as assets. The students said they also met with members of President Barack Obama's administration

After walking to Washington, D.C., the students rode to Arizona where they requested a meeting with Arpaio.

The five students were outnumbered 10-to-1 by their supporters and members of the media as a scrum formed in the lobby outside the Sheriff's Office prior to the meeting, but Arpaio's time with the activists was calm and contemplative. Arpaio shared memories of working in Colombia and Venezuela during his time with the Drug Enforcement Administration; the students told Arpaio he knew more about their native countries than they do.

"If you deport me to Venezuela, I'd have no idea where to start," said Carlos Roa, 22.

Arpaio said the students' quest for immigration reform would have to start at the national level.

"You keep fighting the fight, make sure you get to D.C. and talk to the politicians," he said.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/ ... 01-ON.html

Gag...Sheriff Joe better not go soft....

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http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-201408.html

Originally Posted by TexasBorn

Gag...Sheriff Joe better not go soft.... :?

Don't worry about Sheriff Joe. He will never give up the fight.

I don't know. Look what happened to Lou Dobbs!!!

We went up there and showed our humanity to a person who for many years has been criminalizing our communities," Pacheco said after the meeting. "We must make sure that we allow for him as a brother who has been strayed away to come into the light."

A brother who has been strayed away to come into the light? Do I dare ask what the heck this guy's talking about? On second thought, I really don't care what he's talking about, as he's nothing more than an open borders zealot, guided by racial allegiance!

I don't care what it means, as the rule of law is still on our side!

myfoxphoenix.com
Sheriff Joe Sits Down with 'Undocumented' Students
Miami students want amnesty with DREAM Act
Updated: Tuesday, 01 Jun 2010, 6:27 PM MDT
Published : Tuesday, 01 Jun 2010, 6:27 PM MDT

PHOENIX - In an unlikely meeting, Sheriff Joe Arpaio sat down to discuss immigration with five students from Miami, whose parents entered the United States illegally.

The students are part of the nationwide push for the DREAM Act, which aims to make some students who are here illegally, legal, if they came to the U.S. as kids and graduate from high school.

Earlier this year, the students were part of a group that walked from Miami to Washington D.C. to show their support for the DREAM Act.

Because of Arizona's new immigration law, the students decided to pay a visit to Sheriff Joe Arpaio. They came in wearing pink shirts that say "undocumented."

The college-age students told Sheriff Joe they came to America as children -- and that it wasn't their choice. They say it would be unfair to send them back now.

"If you deport me to Venezuela, I have no idea where to start. I was raised in this country, I grew up here. My community is here, my family's here. I am such a productive member of society," says Carlos Roa.

The sheriff was sympathetic, but he says the law is the law.

"You know you have committed a federal crime when you cross the border. Why don't you admit that, why can't you say that people in this country have committed a criminal offense? Now if you don't like it, try to get the law changed," responded Arpaio.

Although the students know they didn't change his mind, afterwards, they felt they made progress talking to the sheriff.

"I think what I learned in Arizona has been greater than anything I ever learned in my life: is that I am a human being -- I am not undocumented -- I'm not an illegal -- I'm not a criminal," says Gaby Pacheco, supporter of the DREAM Act.

The sheriff says he will continue to enforce the law in Arizona, and the students say they will continue to push for immigration reform that will make them legal.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/ed ... n-6-1-2010