Justice Dept. Investigates Arizona Sheriff for Enforcing Immigration Law

[Hazcat]

CNSNews.com) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona following requests by congressional Democrats and allegations by liberal activists that the department has violated the civil rights of illegal aliens.

Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Robert Scott (D-Va.) requested the investigation, and activists groups such as National Day Laborer Organizer Network and ACORN launched petition drives and rallies in support of the probe.

The investigation focuses on Sheriff Joe Arpaio and dozens of officers under his command who were trained through the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security (ACCESS), which partners federal and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. (The Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division is known popularly as ICE.)

In a letter dated March 10, 2009, Loretta Smith, acting assistant attorney general at the DOJ, detailed what her department would be investigating:

"This is to inform you that the United States Department of Justice is commencing an investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (''MCSO'') pursuant to the pattern or practice provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994,42 U.S.C. §14141 ("Section 14141") and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968,42 U.S.C. § 3789d ("Safe Streets Act"), and pursuant to the prohibitions against national origin discrimination in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-7 ("Title Yr') and the Safe Streets Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3789d(c)." 
 
The letter continues:  "The investigation will focus on alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the MCSO, and on allegations of national origin discrimination, including failure to provide meaningful access to MCSO services for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals."

"In conducting the investigation, we will seek to determine whether there are violations of the above laws by the MCSO," the letter says.

Sheriff Arpaio's efforts to enforce immigration laws have been the focus of previous criticism, but Arpaio has defended his department and the results his ICE-trained officers have netted.
 
Concerning the DOJ’s investigation, Arpaio told CNSNews.com:  “I will not back down. What I am doing is upholding the laws of the state of Arizona, and I will not be persuaded to turn my back on my oath of office as sheriff of this county.”

In an August 2008 press release, Arpaio's office detailed those results.

"While the Sheriff’s illegal immigration and human smuggling operations conducted on the streets and roadways here have netted nearly 2,300 arrests, another very successful effort to locate illegal aliens has been quietly happening inside Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jails," the release said.

It continues: "Despite the growing criticism of the Sheriff’s illegal immigration fight by some valley politicians and activists, Sheriff Arpaio says 60 detention officers trained by ICE officials have conducted over 106,000 interviews and investigations of inmates booked into jail since April of 2007.

"In those 18 months, 16,000 inmates were determined to be illegal aliens. Either they have already been deported or will be deported after being tried and/or serving their sentences for crimes committed in the valley. The work being done be Arpaio’s detention staff is a likely contributor to the recent reduction in crime in the valley,” the press release added.

"That number of 16,000 represents a full one-third (1/3) of all inmates in the United States who have had holds placed on them after being identified by jail or prison officials as illegal aliens."

The press release goes on to say that 20 percent of inmates in the Maricopa County Jail are illegal aliens and that of those, 2,000 illegal aliens - 70 percent - were arrested for felony crimes.

Those felony crimes committed included the following: forgery, 12 percent; kidnapping, 10 percent; aggravated assault, 7 percent; driving under the influence, 7 percent; drug charges, 27 percent; robbery, 3 percent; murder, 3 percent; and theft, 4 percent.

The Democratic Congress members have also asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to launch an investigation into the training provided by ICE.


http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=44899

Comments at link

[ericire12]

Violated their civil rights? Good grief.

[THE CORONER]

I think the sheriff's approach to enforcing the laws out there are right on.  I think tent city is a brilliant idea.  It's not pleasant, it's still better and worse than state prison, yet the inmates give back to the community through work details.  Seems like the shows I seen on the tv telling about the sheriff, and his unorthodox methods, should be a standard by which all departments follow.

Note worthy...  This sheriff's dept. didn't seem to have a short supply of inmates in tent city.  So crime in Mariacopa Co., or however you spell it; doesn't pay.  The sheriff isn't the judge, so the judge in that county seems to have an active role in putting the criminals there.

As for the investigation......do we really want to make illegal aliens political prisoners?  What do they think Homeland Security means?  And when I say political prisoners, I mean are we going to house all these illegals who are here illegal, or transporting illegal goods, or drugs when they come into this country?  They are not citizens of the United States, why then do they deserve; or by all accounts "demand" fair treatment from unreasonable searches and seizures, quarter, or claims any rights granted to us under the constitution of the United States government?  They can all go to hell!  And take the money grubbing lawyers with them!

Policy regarding these issues are in place, and set forth by our policy makers.  Don't hang the hangman.  Hang the guy who thought hanging was the way to go. 

It's obvious to me and I'm sure alot of you, that our southern border is being breeched on a regular basis.  From Texas to California.  We'll build a pipeline to pipe oil in, but our government won't build a wall to keep anyone out who doesn't belong here?  I say build the wall!  Create jobs.  Boost the economy on our border towns!  Enforce our laws to those who trepass against them.  Is it my fault that Mexico is a shit whole of a country full of murderers, drug dealers, and kidnappers for ransom?  I think not.  I don't want them here.  Do you?

"If you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything"

[Thanos]

You think that a particular party is using the Justic Department as a tool to push their agenda?

[Hazcat]

I think that at least 3 D congress critters oughta be impeached (at the very least) for refusing (actually actively impeding) to uphold the US Constitution!

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

You think that a particular party is using the Justic Department as a tool to push their agenda?

Heck yes ! The liberals have been out to get Sheriff Joe from the beginning. Now they have added incentive because he is interfering with the invasion of the Obama voters.

[fightingquaker13]

I loath and despise Sheriff Arapio as a showboating  media whore who does't understand the meaning of the word profesionallism. (Want to die quick? Get between the Sheriff and a TV camera.) Nevertheless, he's right on this one. It just seems like basic common sense that when ANYONE AND EVERYONE, not just hispanics, is booked into jail, that their residency status should be checked. If they're here illegally, out they go. I understand concerns about redneck cops pulling folks over for driving while Mexican, because we all know this happens. I also get that cops shouldn't be ICE agents because we want illegals to be able to call the cops and say they saw someone break into your house and testify later. Its imperfect, but its reality. However, if you find youself in jail, running your residency should be as routine as running your prints. I really don't see a problem here.
fightingquaker13

[tombogan03884]

 All of these so called "sanctuary cities" , like Newark NJ  should lose all federal funding and the administrators should face federal felony conspiracy charges as well as charges of violating the Constitution:
Article 1
section 8
Clause 4:

To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

[MikeBjerum]

Sheriff Joe uses way too much common sense in his department!  I feel for Maricopa County when he retires, because the bleeding hearts will not let anyone like come back in again 

[tt11758]

Sheriff Joe uses way too much common sense in his department!  I feel for Maricopa County when he retires, because the bleeding hearts will not let anyone like come back in again 

Oh I don't know.  He does continue to be re-elected.