LatinaLista — President Barack Obama met with reporters from 14 regional newspapers today at the White House and declared:
“We’ve got a very big border with Mexico. I’m not interested in militarizing the border.â€
However, for some who are intent to root out undocumented immigrants any way they can, these personnel have accomplished creating their own brand of “militarization’ — even though our own President is opposed to it.
The most infamous person in the country right now “militarizing” his town in the name of immigration enforcement is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Arpaio has not been shy about his methods and it’s probably the fact that he’s so egotistical and publicity-hungry that has landed him in a place he’s always daring people to do — investigate how he enforces immigration law.
The only difference is that this time it’s Washington that’s investigating him.
Arpaio is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice which is looking into allegations of discriminatory practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.
In a letter dated Tuesday to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the department’s Civil Rights Division said investigators will focus on alleged patterns of discriminatory police practices and on allegations of discrimination based on a person’s national origin.
While it’s true that the federal investigation is a result of Democratic leaders in the U.S. House calling to see whether or not Arpaio violated civil rights regulations, it stands to reason the investigation would never be called by Republicans, nor was it ever.
And for that reason Arpaio felt empowered to rule Maricopa County without regard to the civil or human rights of Latino residents.
Arpaio is confident that nothing damaging will be found against him.
And maybe it won’t but the higher objective of this investigation is putting Arpaio on notice that his “free ride” to intimidate, entrap and profile Latino residents are over.
Comment(24)
Horace
And what if they can’t pin anything on him? Boy will you ethnocentrists look like fools! The authorities have already investigated him but found nothing. The end result will be that these new investigations are just political witch hunts and Arpaio will be free to continue to enforce our immigration laws.
Hissy
Didn’t he just get his own tv show? Are hispanics the only aliens arrested? If the county is hispanic then my guess is that he will be okay because he can’t pick and choose who breaks the law. Most of the arrests were for traffic violations is my understanding.
Antonio Gonzalez
Latina Lista , Obama will send the military to the
border, Remember this , they
will close the border maybe
this years when Mexico crisis
reach all the north.
Lew Waters
Enforcing the law is considered “discriminating against Latinos?”
You go Sheriff Joe!!
We need many more like him that stand up for Law & Order.
Hissy
Antonio…I agree that it may come to this! Ever hear the old saying…”throwing the baby out with the bathwater”? Americans are so angry that they no longer care…at least in my circle..NOBODY wants to talk about immigration. The last thing they want to hear anything about is LATINOS. This has really reached a boiling point. I used to have sympathy but no longer. I watch my neighbors struggle to pay the heat bill while the “poor” immigrants get government hand outs left and right. Half of the school speaks NO ENGLISH. I am in the midwest…not the border. Madness is what it is. The good will now pay for the crimes of the bad.
MaryElizabeth
The problem with this Sheriff is he needs to focus on the Drug Cartel and not the town workers. They need to put real military their and get ready folks because our military is only so big!! between Iraq, Afganistan and Mexico….and a federal deficit does it make sense to spend money detaining workers??
laura
Arpaio is a shameful blot on the face of the United States, the same way Bull Connor was in 1960s Alabama. I have seen reports on his recent degrading parade of shackled immigrants on several European newspaper sites.
I hope my shame of being a citizen of the country that lets this man violate brown people’s human rights en masse will be expunged by this investigation.
George W. Bush, R. Cheney and D. Rumsfeld humiliated this country by making torture government policy. Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are the symbols of our humiliation. Arpaio is a smaller offender on the same spectrum.
Clearly there are Americans who applaud torture and humiliation of others by state officials (as long as it is not perpetrated against them). A few of them post on this site regularly. I hope the majority of decent Americans will prevail.
In the case of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, international law states that they are to be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court for their war crimes if they are not prosecuted domestically. I believe they will soon be unable to leave the country for fear of arrest. In the case of a little guy like Arpaio, I hope he can be dealt with by domestic authorities.
Horace
Lou Dobbs raked all of your ethnocentric ant-patriots over the coals today, including the USAG, Logfen, Conyer, et al. He had the congressman for the Phoenix and Maricopa County in the show. Lou called the whole issue a political witch hunt. Like I said earlier, once the investigations are over, and the fascist ethnocentrists have shot their bolt, Arpaio and his supporters will be vindicated, and there will be nothing stopping Joe.
The congressional hearings may just backfire. If nothing else, the publicity from the congressional abuse may evoke sympathy for Joe and his cause and motivate millions of his silent supporters to protest to their congressmen and senators. The backlash will be beautiful. Ethnocentrists should be careful for what the wish.
The world is watching, including other states which won’t hesitate to emulate Joe. Who knows, maybe this will be the turning point in the fight against the invasion from Latin America. Let the games begin! Remember, your people started this.
Horace
“I hope my shame of being a citizen of the country that lets this man violate brown people’s human rights en masse will be expunged by this investigation.”
Don’t worry Laura, we law abiding citizens are ashamed of having citizens like you too, so you’re not alone.
Which human rights are being violated? There’s no such human right as invading another people’s country or disrespecting their laws, at least as recognized by any other nation on this planet. The only rights I see being violated are the rights of U.S. citizens to be free from foreign interference and occupation, something even the Mexican people demand of us when their borders are violated. This is a universal right recognized by all nations.
MaryElizabeth
Arpagio and Dobbs are both Nuts!! This sheriff came from a very disturbed disfuncional background where his mother died in childbirth haveing him and his father didnt raise him because he didnt want to deal with being a single parent. Any guy that would shackle a bunch of immigrants and make them walk that way wearing pink underwear is really weird and as for Dobbs if anything with the word Hispanic is mentioned in the Obama administration he starts pulling out all the anti-undocumented worker rhetoric just for some rateings.
Michaela
They are targeting Sheriff Joe, pure and simple. The scum behind this investigation are the racist criminal Bermudez, with the “Immigrants Without Borders” bullcrap site and another racist Hispanic Antonio Gutierrez. Both are in bed with Mexico and work with the Mexican government to intimidate our law enforcement. They are despicable and need to be tried for treason!
Sandra
The reason for the pink underwear is because the white ones kept being stolen. So the Sheriff decided to have them dyed pink because he figured no one would want to steal pink underwear.
Dobbs reports news and that includes illegal immigration. He reports the truth about them. Is that what you call rhetoric? Dobbs is opposed to illegal immigration so it is a passion of his. It is not for ratings. He is married to a Hispanic woman.
Hissy
My guess is that Lou Dobb’s hears the word HISPANIC quite often since he is MARRIED to one.
Panchito
The problem with Joe Arpaio,Lou Dobbs, and other racists is the data does not back up their stereotypes about the Southern border and the people that live there- which are predominately Hispanic.
It took me 3 minutes to gather the following data on crime statistics:
El Paso, TX (borders Juarez Mexico): population: 586K; Murders: .47 times the national average; Robbery: .45 times the national average; All violent Crime: The same as the national average.
Kansas City, Mo (The Heartland of America):
population: 445K; Murders: 2.4 times the national average; Robbery: 1.94 times the national average; All violent Crime: 2.31 times the national average.
Seattle, WA (Biggest city closest to Canada:)
population: 576K; Murders: .77 times the national average; Robbery: 1.2 times the national average; All violent Crime: 1.15 times the national average.
Would you believe, after listening to Lou or Rush, that KC has up to four times the murder rate and Robberies as El Paso, TX? And that El Paso’s crime is also significantly lower than Seattle’s which borders Canada?
Maybe we need to send the military to Kansas City instead of our Southern Border so they can restore law and order there.
These so called ” Journalists” repeat their lies on National TV and radio so often that even people who are generally sympathetic to immigrants (legal and illegal) accept their evil lies as gospel truth.
If Panchito can take 3 minutes of his time to find this data; surely, smart and influential people like Lou and Rush could do the same. But maybe, like some of the people that post on this site, they do not want to know and report the truth. Maybe they have a hidden agenda?
Referenced information can be found at:
http://www.cityrating.com/crimestatistics.asp
MaryElizabeth
I didnt say Dobbs was a racist…I said…anytime that the Word hispanic is used by the Obama administration Lou Dobbs starts linking the anti-immigrant rhetoric along with it. John Mccain said in a recent interview he did not agree with Sheriff Joe so its not really a Democratic/Republican thing. People are mixed on the immigration issue. By the way Sandra…How did they steal the underwear? Im just curious? how did they smuggle underwear out of the prison? My guess is if they stole the white ones…they will probably take the pink ones too? If you need underwear that bad you might not care if they are pink or white.
Idler
Panchito,
What were the statistics from Joe Arpaio, et al., that you’re refuting?
It’s hard to judge the relevance of the figures you quote without knowing the specific claims they made.
Sandra
Panchito, the bottom line is that objection to illegal immigration is based on the rule of law and that is all that matters to most Americans.
For every source that the pro-illegals can provide to tone down the crime stats of illegal aliens the anti-illegals can provide an opposing source. Again, the bottom line is that if these people weren’t in our country illegally there would be that much less crime for us to deal with. That cannot be denied.
MaryElizabeth
Sandra, “Rule of Law” is not what Americans care about. They are not really into the immigration issue anymore. I really think the next time the issue comes up there is going to be a small majority that oppose it and its not going to come up until our economy picks up and when it does people are going to want the bill to pass. Americans are tired of the issue and the want it off the table and when you oppose it next time its going to be tougher for you to rally the anti’s up. Same with the republican party…they want to re-group and get these issues out of the way because they are loseing too many votes because people are sick of the same game. They lost 44 electorial votes over the immigration issue. Our society has become such a melting pot that the majority population has a mixed ethnic backgrounds.They care about the economy and the Bank crisis. They are angry that the wealthy and well connected-(the cronies are hated) not the undocumented. The cronies have taken advantage of our tax dollars. Look at AIG. I just had a republican send me a petition to sign against the cronies that are trying to pocket our tax dollars. Americans care about their wallets…they always did and always will. They do not buy the immigrants stole their jobs rhetoric. Americans are too smart to be fooled by that game. If you noticed, at the moment immigration is not the focus we are all busy trying to survive the outcome of poor leadership from the last 8 years.
Panchito
Hissy,
You have never had any sympathy for anyone but yourself girl.
But maybe I shouldn’t blame you since, I’m wondering what kind of neighborhood you live in – “I watch my neighbors struggle to pay the heat bill while the “poor” immigrants get government hand outs left and right. Half of the school speaks NO ENGLISH”
Sounds like you are in worst shape than some of these migrants. No wonder you are angry. The only question I have is : What in the world have you done with your life that you are still living in the gutter? Migrants have an excuse. What is yours?
Sandra
ME, the Republican loss had nothing to to do with immigration! It has to do with the war and the economy.
We use to be a melting pot and I have no problem with that concept. But since we have 20 million plus illegal aliens from mostly one ethnic group and their aiders and abettors, the melting pot is turning into a salad bowl quickly.
Most Americans blame our government, corportions who hire cheap illegal labor and the illegals themselves. They are ALL guilty. The illegals do not get a pass!!
You are in deep denial if you don’t think that employers are favoring cheap illegal labor over hiring Americans at a fair wage. But then you pro-illegals have always been in deep denial about how illegal immigration negatively impacts our country. You will try to justify it anyway that you can. There is no justification for breaking any of our laws and that includes our immigration laws.
Lea Ortiz
I have come to the conclusion that this is a hate filled and racist blog. All that is ever brought out is that people that don’t believe as you do are racists. Nothing could be more wrong.
Common sense says to anyone that when something is left open, (door, banks, medicine, borders, anything) there is someone that will be ready to take advantage of negligence. That is what is happening with out borders.
I am tired of of being called a racist by the people that post on this blog. BUT, I will start pointing to it at every opportunity to show just how racist a group of people can be.
Whatever happens on the borders is going to happen and is a result of negligence on the part of American law enforcement. Negligence for so long and to the degree that people think they have a “right” to enter our country illegally.
Whatever happens I am sure all that post on this blog will be happy to abide by the laws of a country that is worth death in trying to come here, right?
MaryElizabeth
Sandra, The immigration issue has cost the republicans dearly. It is obvious most of the republicans did not care about immigration reform because John Mccain won the primary. DUH!! The Mccain/Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform bill. Americans care about all the issues and you are in denial on that one. It is a known fact that many hispanics came out in great numbers and voted and immigration was a main concern because they have family, friends or neighbors effected by the broken immigration system. Think about it….and you need to check your facts. It is currently at 11.7 million. Now, add the friends, family and neighbors that are concerned and that can come to a huge part of the population that votes. Do you know what this means? If the republican party separates on the immigration issue…it may destroy the party. (Republicans stress family values) meanwhile they advocate the separation of familys and their children through deportation. This is sickening to most Americans. This will destroy the Republican image of family values. If Republicans kept it up we will see 8 years of Obama and maybe 8 of Hillary Clinton or some other democrat. (Probably a woman).
Sandra
ME, as I already said and I guess I have to repeat it for you is that the Republicans didn’t lose the election because of the conservatives in the party that don’t want yet another amnesty but enforcement of our immigration laws. I already told you the reasons that they lost. Hispanics and most minorities typically vote Democratic anyway.
What about citizens who commit crimes and are separated from their families? Sorry, but it the price you pay for breaking any of our laws. When illegal aliens are deported they can take their families with them. So where is this so-called separation?
I would never put my own relatives above the laws of this country or above my fellow Americans if they break our laws. Guess it must be a Hispanic thing. And no it is not sickening to most Americans, only to ethnocentric Hispanics it seems.
MaryElizabeth
Sandra, Bush and Mccain tried to warn the Republican party that if they went against the reform bill it would be future political suicide. Remember, a main reason why some Republicans went against it was because they were going up for re-election in more conservative areas but if you look at the big picture…mccain did lose more Hispanic vote in this past election. Bush did get a good amount of Hispanic vote when he ran because he is pro-life. Now remember one of the main values that republicans have is about God and family…now when Hispanics see family, friends and neighbors get separated they lose voters not only with hispanics…they lose with moderates too! The truth is that if Bush did pass immigration reform..Republicans would have picked up major numbers with the Hispanic voters. Also, you have to look at the voteing pattern of the younger groups and Obama has brought many youths into politics. If you ask the young voters they do not feel racism is an issue in their generation. When asking them what issue brought them to the table they talk about the Iraq War and they are angry at the cronism and CEOs of America. The youths do not have an issue with immigration reform. So if you add up the numbers…again like I have been saying we are a melting pot society and when you think you need to step out of the box.
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