Since when do illegal aliens have rights? They are criminals. They broke the law. Of course, the head of Homeland Security has been behind the Sheriff’s arse for years. She doesn’t want the law enforced. Another criminal in Obama’s cabinet.
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.
Why are these people allowed to do this? Acorn? Since when do criminals get to call the shots?? So, where does the AZ Attorney General stand on this? The Arizona Attorney General refuses to obey the oath of office and refuesl to support duly constituted law along with these other clowns.
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.
It is obvious to me that these Democrats do not have to deal with immigration issues that Arizona does.
March 12, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Sheriff Joe is now getting harassed by liberals who have no clue about the happenings in Arizona. He is doing a good job. The problem is that he has raised their ire with exposing the problem of illegal aliens, and the liberals feel the pinch, since this is the voting base they appeal to. More power to Sheriff Joe! May he reign forever!
March 13, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Joe don’t do his Job!!! He is a Sheriff not an ICE officer! when starts taking the real criminals off the street instead of mexican day workers then he will be doing his job!!!!
Arpaio has over 40,000 arrest warrants he hasn’t executed, while hassling Latino workers trying for day jobs at the nearby Home Depot. He did a sweep through neighboring city of Guadalupe, pulling Latinos over and demanding ID (as if many of these people aren’t American citizens).
March 13, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Andy, are you Hispanic? As an officer of the law, it is your duty to uphold the law. These people are breaking the law by coming to this country without proper papers. Try it in France and see how far you get.
Hey Andy, I am Hispanic and I find the behavior of the DOJ offensive. My relatives came and did everything by the book. Perhaps the US should help Mexico get its sh*t together so that their countrymen don’t want to run away. Mexico’s government is corrupt and so is most of Latin America.
I have no problem with anyone coming to this country as long as they follow the laws of this country. ICE is a joke. It is purposely understaffed. Janet, Ms. Homeland Security is also a huge joke. Say one thing, do another.
March 17, 2009 at 7:33 AM
immigration violations are civil offenses, not criminal. when you or I commit a civil offense we aren’t put in jail or humiliated. Round ups are akin to rounding up traffic violators, both are completely arbitrary.
Most immigration violations are people over staying their visas, the rate of crime in the immigrant population is lower than in the general citizenry, U$ economic policy in latin america is the main reason for forced migration to the united states.
ps- what does it matter if Andy is “hispanic” or not?
March 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Sorry Barndoor, breaking the law of this country IS a problem for me. As for your differentiation on offense, what do you think medicaid and medicare fraud are? Who perpetuates this? Do you believe that there is a difference when someone walks into a hospital to ask for care? Who do you think pays for that fraud?
BS on the overstay of the Visas. If you want to stay, no problem…do it the legal way.
My parents and grandparents did it, why can’t these people? Are you telling me that your severely narrow offender definition relieves people who break the law?
Hey, I don’t get traffic tickets either. Why? Probably because I follow the speed limit.
Hispanic or not, take a good look at the illegal immigration stats in this country. What percentage are from Latin American countries? I don’t see too many folks from New Guinea here illegally overstaying their visit. Do you? Why are Latin American country government so incredibly corrupt? Don’t go there because they are not the only governments running their people out of the country.
Why did the founding fathers want to split from England? They split because they were sick of being crapped on from across the pond. Suffering they did. They had cajones.
You may find my thoughts a bit harsh. Cry me a river about hardships. Fix your country if you want to make it better. That is what makes a country great. Don’t runaway. If you don’t like the puppet masters that the US has installed, fix it. History provides the lessons. Ugly part: You have to suck up the consequences and have some fortitude to do this. It is far easier to run away.
Barndoor, roundups may hurt your feelings, but my property tax burden is just a bit too high to sustain such sentiments. Education levels are also compromised. If you believe that everyone seeking a home in the US comes to work, I feel for you. Oh, an while I am at it, this country should get rid of dual citizenship as well. Where is the allegiance?
Come to this country, and follow the laws of the land.
March 17, 2009 at 6:48 PM
How is immigration hurting your tax burden?
Unsure about your quip about medicaid, are you suggesting we lock up the poor too? Or are you suggesting that immigrants are using services reserved for citizens?
Undocumented people can’t receive medicaid and medicare, as they have no documents. They do, however, pay into those systems, as well as social security, and fed and state taxes, these folks don’t get tax returns.
Overstaying of visas isn’t b.s., it is the majority of immigration violations. As for fixing the country, isn’t this part of it? If our country addresses only the effects of immigration policy instead of the root causes, I would like to see that changed.
I repeat that the main cause for migration to the United States is that U$ corporations exploit unfair labor law (cause U$ jobs to go elsewhere) and folks come here looking for a better life. If latin americans were paid decent wages in their home countries, by U$ corporations, they would stay, and our jobs would stay here as well.
p.s. all people, not just Americans, have human rights, it is god given, no matter where you are. The difference between civil and criminal law is important, detaining people and violating their rights for lesser crimes doesn’t do our society any good, do you suggest locking up traffic offenders for long periods of time? Are you aware of the documented system of abuse and malnutrition in immigrant detention centers? Are you aware that corporations make billions of dollars off of detention centers? Paid for by your tax dollars for the benefit of a few CEOs. Quite an incentive to cut costs and hold people longer. There are more effective and less costly systems for dealing with immigration offenses, with a high rate of success.
March 17, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Are you a business or property owner? Immigration is a burden on everyone. Who do you believe pays for the infrastructure in this country? By the way, have you ever tried getting a job in France or Germany without a work permit? Overstaying Visas IS BS. Who and what counts do you have for the multitudes that are undocumented, as in they never had a Visa? Uhm, falsification of documentation is a HUGE business in this country. Remember 9/11 and how well those folks covered their tracks?
Let me enlighten you on how medicaid, medicare and social services.
If an undocumented and uninsured person is taken to a hospital for any reason, the hospital MUST treat him. No choice on that one. That is the law. Who do you think sucks that one up? Insurance is not cheap these days. Guess whose premiums go up when the hospital is overburdened by those that cannot pay. The money has to come from somewhere.
Free clinics across the country are shutting down without extra funding from the government because they don’t have $$$ to treat poor people.
I resent anyone classifying themselves as POOR in this country. If need be, you can get a job doing something. It may not be what you desire, but you will have work. I don’t believe in the “POOR” label. Not in this country. Sorry, this country is NOT Darfur, we have opportunity.
You and I have choices…you can choose to help who you want to when you want to. It is called freedom of choice. Have you ever heard of accountability? Why do these people feel that they are not accountable for their actions?
Abuse and malnutrition? Where did you see that? The federal centers are somewhat better than what you describe. I don’t have cable TV, but the inmates do. I actually know people who work in some of these “detention” facilities.
Abuse? Lashing a gang raped victim after she has delivered the child under Sharia Law is abuse. Does she have God given rights?
Stop with the U$ corporation nonsense. I see a drug dealer on the Forbes wealthiest list. His corporation is doing just fine in Mexico. Now, I want to see you try to take his $$$ to pay for infrastructure in Mexico. You might have a problem with the automatic AK 47s aimed at your rear end. Perhaps a beheading. Have you been watching Mexico and the drug wars lately? If you didn’t buy whatever it is at the moment, they would not exist, would they?
As for detaining folks to make more $$$. You are joking, right? Start researching how much $$$ is downed into a black hole when it comes to the courts and how to deal with these people. Make sure that you look at all the border cities across the US. Catch and release or your county/city goes broke. The US Government does not have the $$ to do this.
Since when does the US Constitution offer rights to citizens of the world? It doesn’t.
Hey, if you are up to helping folks in their native land, there is always Peace Corps. You can make a difference.
Like I said, I have NO problem with anyone wanting to come to the US legally. Talk to me when you are tired of paying taxes.
Peace to you barndoor.
March 18, 2009 at 2:54 AM
Barndoor,
Get a job, grow some, live some, and when you actually stop living in your parents basement, come back so that we can discuss the world.
Money is irrelevant. It is what you do with your life that counts. I am happy to say that I will be able to look back on my life and know that I didn’t just spew niceties, but I actually did something to better the world. Unlike you, I have walked the walk and not just talked the BS. $ has bought me freedom to choose what I wish to do in life. It is a tool. You should know that if you work.
You wish to punish people for being successful. Odd.
Ignorance? I urge you to rethink how you speak to people who are far older than you. Do you speak to your parents in such an ugly manner when they disagree with you?
Rudeness seems quite pervasive as a theme for you. FYI, I am also a first generation US born citizen, so watch the snark about xenophobia. It doesn’t become you.
I have lived in a poor foreign country. Have you? I grew up in one of the poorest counties in this country. I have worked more than two jobs at one time. I have had several successful careers to date. I still work. Work is not a bad word to me. Breaking the law is wrong.
So, tell me since when does the US Constitution protect world rights?
God given rights? I believe you want to become a worldly person, so keep the God given rights in your belief pocket. Some folks are Buddhists, Hindus, Native Americans, Wiccans etc. Their faith is not based on your God given rights.
You have a very long journey ahead of you. Intentions are great…try action. Peace.
March 18, 2009 at 7:33 AM
well, that’s a nice dismissal, not so easy for you to peg me though, I have worked since I was 15, full time since I was 18. I am now 35, I have, after quite a bit of work, become a successful working musician. I have a 12 year old daughter, she lives with me full time. She is quite a successful student, and a compassionate human being as well. No, I don’t live in my parents basement.
I have done many things besides spew niceties, it is my experience as a worker and a parent, and through working with immigrant groups that I come to hold the beliefs I hold. Why is working to improve the world only allowed when it fits what you think bettering the world is.
Intolerance and misunderstandings of how systems work is not bettering the world, I trust however that you have done certain things that you think benefit humanity, good job, when the working class works to better their lives, this is just as much a good thing.
Your statement that money gives you freedom is telling, those who have no money therefore are not free, and I agree wholeheartedly.
I apologize for any rudeness you have noted, the general tenor of your original post, and subsequent posts seem awfully cruel, and provokes rudeness from me.
As for rights, we do have inalienable rights granted us by the creator(s) (or just as humans). No government nor constitution can change that, as humans we have a moral duty to treat each other as fellow humans, not animals.
The idea is not to punish success, but to ensure that those who are successful aren’t that way at the expense of others. Something we disagree about, quite obviously.
For now, I am active with the Socialist Party USA, immigrant rights work, my local peace group, and a living wage campaign. A long while back, I grew tired of simply noting the fallacies of our systems, and simply having good intentions, and decided to take action, this conversation is part of that.
But we are missing something, we aren’t going to agree on detentions or human rights. The original post stated that DOJ won’t let Sheriff Joe do his job. Is it really his job? It is my understanding that ICE is responsible for immigration enforcement, doesn’t Joe have other things he’s supposed to be doing? If so, a concerned tax payer such as yourself might be inclined to wonder why your taxes are going to pay for a doubling up of services. That is really the question to be debating I suppose, so I guess I am done.
I stand by my reasoning that jailing people for failed immigration policy is not fixing anything.
I’m off to “grow some” and take action, see you on the picket lines.
Peace to you mcnorman
March 18, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Joe is doing his job and I am proud of him.
Illegal immigrants expect everything free, housing benefits, subsidy. Where will it end.
March 18, 2009 at 8:48 PM
It never will end.
March 23, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Members of Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability kick off a hunger strike on March 29. The date was picked to coincide with the week of celebrations for Cesar Chavez, the Mexican American civil rights activist who fought for fair labor conditions.
Luis Avila, an organizer with MCSA, said the group has planned several activities to protest Sheriff Joe Arpaio that week, including vigils, news conferences and protests. He declined to give details on the events.
The fast starts at 6 p.m. March 29 at Santa Rita Hall in downtown Phoenix, where Chavez fasted for 24 days in 1972.
“We are going to bring attention to his abuses of power,” said Avila. “We have people coming from all over the country for the spiritual fast during the week.”
For months, MCSA showed up at Board of Supervisors meetings to pressure it to put an end to Arpaio’s controversial immigration sweeps, to better monitor lawsuits related to his office, and to more closely examine his emergency response times and jurisdictional reach.
posted by BringItOn on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:44 PM
If these people spent as much time trying to become legal citizens as they do protesting Joe Arpaio, it would make life so much better for all of us.
Illegal Immigrants: Work at becoming legal. Obey our laws. That is a great start.
posted by broosewane on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:54 PM
If it’s worth doing ,it’s worth doing right, 100 days minimum..
posted by OIFIIIMP on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Roger BRINGITON. My thoughts exactly.
BTW, have you heard of any plans to call this protest “A Day Without Tortillas” ?
posted by Margaret9753 on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:52 PM
The longer they keep it up, the better their chances of winning Darwin Awards.
Joe has been investigated on this nonsense before and has come out just fine
posted by Majority on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Comprehensive Immigration Reform is coming…..
Really, what like it did in 2006 and 2007 when the Demorats were incharge of Congress??? You are pretty funny…….
I agree with steeldog95……………self-immolation would also get the attention of Phoenix Fire, with sirens going, all that goooooood stuff.
posted by kathnee on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:30 PM
That’s good. Some of them could stand to lose a lot of weight. Hope Mary Rose Wilcox participates.
posted by steeldog95 on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I heard self-immoliation is a great way to get your point across…
March 24, 2009 at 2:50 AM
Thank you for the information. I am beyond grossed out about these protests. Sheriff Joe is a true lawman.
April 9, 2009 at 11:56 AM
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