Joe Arpaio and the Wrong Paths to Immigration Reform

 Posted by on 2009/10/13  Comments Off
Oct 132009
 
Joe Arpaio and the Wrong Paths to Immigration Reform

All last week the people of Phoenix witnessed public outbursts by their sheriff, Joe Arpaio, as he railed against the Department of Homeland Security for supposedly trying to limit his ability to enforce federal immigration laws. He vowed to keep scouring Maricopa County for people whose clothing, accents and behavior betrayed them as likely illegal immigrants. He said he had already nabbed more than 32,000 people that way, and announced his next immigrant sweep for Oct. 16. The spectacle raises two critical questions that the Obama administration is in danger of getting wrong.

Joe Arpaio loses some 287(g) authority, promises continued harassment of Hispanics

 Posted by on 2009/10/03  3 Responses »
Oct 032009
 
Joe Arpaio loses some 287(g) authority, promises continued harassment of Hispanics

The controversial agreement that authorized Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s deputies to act as federal immigration agents on the streets appears to have ended, Arpaio said late Friday afternoon. The sheriff said he signed a new agreement Friday that will allow deputies and detention officers to continue screening every inmate booked into Maricopa County jails to determine their immigration status. But he said federal authorities had not offered an agreement to extend Arpaio’s street-level immigration enforcement. “This just includes the jail, and deep down, I feel that I ought to take it and rip it all up,” Arpaio said. “On the other hand, I feel it’s very critical to have the jail.” Federal officials on Friday refused to comment on the agreement.

More agencies see the folly of 287(g), drop certifications

 Posted by on 2009/10/03  4 Responses »
Oct 032009
 
More agencies see the folly of 287(g), drop certifications

Two Massachusetts law enforcement agencies have announced that they are no longer enrolled in a controversial program that allows them enforce federal immigration laws. The Framingham police and the Barnstable County sheriff’s department announced Thursday they were withdrawing from the federal program immigrant advocates said deterred immigrants from reporting crimes. Framingham Chief Steven Carl said he was withdrawing because federal officials pressured the department to broaden its enforcement. He said federal officials wanted his department to detain immigrants, transport them and even testify in immigration court.

Orange County (Fl) Sheriff not looking to enforce immigration law

 Posted by on 2009/09/25  Comments Off
Sep 252009
 
Orange County (Fl) Sheriff not looking to enforce immigration law

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is not interested in pursuing illegal immigrants because of their status, Sheriff Jerry Demings told a crowd of 300 people — most of them immigrants — gathered Monday night for an “immigration dialogue.” They were part of an event organized by the Federation of Congregations United to Serve, a coalition of church groups in Orlando, at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in the Oak Ridge neighborhood of southwest Orange.

DOJ Investigators take depositions in investigation of Arpaio

 Posted by on 2009/09/19  1 Response »
Sep 192009
 
DOJ Investigators take depositions in investigation of Arpaio

Justice Department investigators have met with religious and community leaders to hear testimonies on the anti-immigrant practices of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Complaints of racial profiling in traffic stops, and physical and verbal abuse in the jails have mounted against deputies of the controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio for the last couple of years. But tensions have escalated since Sheriff Arpaio signed an agreement with the federal government in 2007 to enforce immigration laws. The controversial 287(g) program has been used to train 160 deputies in Maricopa County who conduct immigration sweeps in Latino neighborhoods and markets. Authority under 287(g) must now be renewed and Arpaio has until Oct. 15 to sign up for another term.

New immigration law sets dangerous precedent

 Posted by on 2009/07/05  Comments Off
Jul 052009
 
New immigration law sets dangerous precedent

By Chris Burbank As you begin the experience of the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., one of the first images you encounter is a photo of a Nazi soldier standing with a German police officer. Conspicuously, the identical theme exists at Yad VaShem, Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims. The Nazi propaganda and hatred effort did not begin with imprisonment and genocide. It was instituted subtly, declaring the criminality of those deemed inferior. Laws were developed and regulations restricting movement, mandating identification and limiting human rights were also passed. Co-opting the trusted local constabulary was instrumental in enforcement of those laws. Unfortunately, throughout history local law enforcement has been an extremely effective arm of oppression. How many individuals in the MORE

The truth behind the Chatham County Resolution that William Gheen does not want you to know

 Posted by on 2009/02/02  Comments Off
Feb 022009
 
The truth behind the Chatham County Resolution that William Gheen does not want you to know

This is the text of the resolution passed by the Chatham County NC Board of Commissioners, declining participation in the controversial 287(g) program. These are all valid reasons and completely contrary to what William Gheen of ALIPAC.us is trying convince the voters of NC about.   CHATHAM COUNTY RESOLUTION ON THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) PROGRAM  Part A – The Resolution Approved January 5, 2009, by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners George Lucier, Chair, District 3 Sally Kost, Vice Chair, District 1 Allen Michael “Mike” Cross, Commissioner, District 2 Carl E. Thompson, Commissioner, District 5 Tom Vanderbeck, Commissioner, District 4 Proposed by the Chatham County Human Relations Commission Margie Ellison, Chair Heather Rodin, Vice Chair Marisol Jimenez MORE

Nativists target Chatham County NC with their messages of intolerance

 Posted by on 2009/02/02  Comments Off
Feb 022009
 
Nativists target Chatham County NC with their messages of intolerance

There’s a war of sorts brewing in Chatham County NC, which towns include Pittsboro and Siler City, home to the majority of North Carolina’s poultry processors. Yep, Willy Gheen and his merry band of armchair radicals have their panties in a wad over a recent resolution passed by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners and the county’s Human Relations Commission indicating strong opposition to any of its law enforcement agencies contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (ICE) The program in question is called the 287(g) program. It authorizes ICE and local law enforcement agencies to enter into an agreement to provide local law enforcement officers with training so they could function under the supervision of sworn ICE officers. Under MORE

Arizona Civil Right Advisory Board recommends termination of Arpaio’s Section 287(g) authorization

 Posted by on 2009/01/01  Comments Off
Jan 012009
 
Arizona Civil Right Advisory Board recommends termination of Arpaio's Section 287(g) authorization

In view of the uncontrolled obsession of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s obsession with harassing persons of “brown skin”, while ignoring real crime, the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board (ACRAB) has recommended that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors end the so-called Section 287(g) agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which allows the County Sheriff’s Office to enforce FEDERAL immigrations laws. County Manager David Smith will review the recommendation and report back to Board of Supervisors. The facts: Since the Board of Supervisors approved the Section 287(g) agreement in February 2007, Sheriff’s deputies have arrested more than 1,455 suspected illegal immigrants, while jail officials have placed immigration holds on more than 19,808 people booked into jail on crimes. MORE