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Sheriff Arpaio Under Investigation By U.S. Justice Department

Posted by Cara, Feministe at 4:41 PM on March 12, 2009.


"The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil-rights investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office."
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Almost a week ago, I shared a petition that demanded an investigation in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s reign of terror in Maricopa County, Arizona.  I am now both absolutely thrilled and admittedly really shocked to share the news that an investigation is now underway!

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil-rights investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office after months of mounting complaints that deputies are discriminating in their enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Officials from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division notified Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Tuesday that they had begun the investigation, which will focus on whether deputies are engaging in “patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.”

An expert said it is the department’s first civil-rights probe related to immigration enforcement.

I’d actually argue that this is only the tip of the iceberg of what Arpaio needs to be investigated for, but the news is excellent nonetheless.  Here’s to hoping that this is a legitimate investigation, which will end in some real results -- preferably, Arpaio’s removal or retirement from his position.

h/t Veronica’s Twitter

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Tagged as: discrimination, racism, immigration, crime, prisons, police state

Cara blogs regularly at The Curvature and Feministe.


Return to Immigration  » Post Tools: email EMAIL print PRINT 21 COMMENTS PERMALINK
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IT'S ABOUT FRIKIN" TIME!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: sasquuatch55 on Mar 13, 2009 5:08 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
nt

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

This is a witchhunt
[Report this comment]
Posted by: mygirlboo on Mar 13, 2009 6:42 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sheriff Joe tries to enforce our laws, which is more than the federal government does. If the feds were securing our border, enforcing our laws and looking out for AMERICAN sovereignty, we wouldn't be overrun with crime, drugs, gangs and social problems costing billions of dollars a year. Mexico is packed with Mexicans, run by Mexicans with everyone doing things the Mexican way. Look at it. As our country becomes more and more packed with Mexicans, more and more run by Mexicans, all doing things the Mexican way, we have only to look at Mexico to see what our beautiful country will become.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: This is a witchhunt Posted by: anneliese-nyc
garyman
[Report this comment]
Posted by: gfbmpa on Mar 13, 2009 8:43 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
From what I read, Sheriff Joe is a throwback to the days of the bullying Southern racist lawman, who does pretty much what he damn well pleases, egged on and supported by an equally racist ruling elite. It's well past time for him and some of his twisted minions to spend some time behind bars, now that his Bush cover is gone.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: garyman Posted by: Sister_Lauren
alkamm
[Report this comment]
Posted by: alkamm on Mar 14, 2009 4:35 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This grandstanding Sheriff uses his office to advance a phony tough guy image. If he's abusing prisoners and violating civil rights, he needs to get a lawyer. His constituency could do better.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I watched Lou Dobbs last night, wow is he angry!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Sister_Lauren on Mar 14, 2009 7:08 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He fairly seethes, and anger at 'Illegals' is the reason.

I think he is in on it. In on their plot to cause horrendous crimes against these people. It is ethnic cleansing Lou has been doing, it is interesting to see how emotionally involved he is.

It makes me wonder if he is guilty of enjoying the CIA pedophile ring.

Read your nation's actual history, George Bush history lesson.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

This creep Arpiggo is murdering more than ILLEGALS
[Report this comment]
Posted by: AMERICAN VETERAN on Mar 14, 2009 8:07 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He has manufactured bogus and felonious charges against various races and ethnicities of people.
He sanctions murder and must be brought down, PHYSICALLY if need be.
There have been PROVEN cases where he colluded with a conman ex-con to frame one kid and, this was all over the news & web for a couple of years.
I don't remember the victim's name butt, he sued and won.
Arpiggo must be brought down and, NOT because of the ILLEGALS who ARE breaking the law.
There are other things this pig has done against INNOCENT humans.

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The simple fact is....
[Report this comment]
Posted by: seacaptdon on Mar 18, 2009 2:59 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The simple fact is that this asshole who calls himself a lawman is actually a renegade lawless scumbag, who should be arrested and given the same treatment he gives others.

While under the last Administration of Constitution ignoring Texas and Wyoming criminal thugs in the Whitehouse, this Sheriff was allowed to operate without regard to the Constitution or Civil Rights... and when anyone is allowed to do that... the whole system of justice fails.

We are supposed to be a country who respects the rule of law for everyone on our soil. Yes we have an immigration policy, but that policy has been corrupted by all the special interests groups on both sides of the issue. To be fair the same immigration laws should apply to everyone from any country not specially tweaked for political purposes and should apply the same to Mexicans as it does to Filipinos or Africans or Vietnamese or Syrians or Russians.

Inhumane and unconscionable treatment is not acceptable by anyone be they President, Sheriff, CIA Agents, soldiers or foreign agents acting under American direction. As a Country and as Citizenry we should be better than that.

This Sheriff should be put on trial along with George Bush and Dick Cheney and Karl Rove and Donald Rumsfeld and Alberto Gonzales and the rest of the gang.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Stupid old man
[Report this comment]
Posted by: hood1 on Mar 18, 2009 3:53 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let me state I actively oppose the War On US (drugs).

I feel Joe is a good guy but he bought the entire lie that what he is doing is good for US. It is not, the devastation and personal destruction the war causes is our country's number one problem. Which is reflected in every poll I have seen. The CNBC online poll is running 97% in favor of legal herbs (cannabis). But our lawmakers are high on the millions contributed and vote against what is best for our country. The millions come from every corporation that profits from the war. They have a vested interest in the 100 billion yearly wasted on the war. Joe is just a guy doing his job but does not see the big picture. He also has adopted the attitude that if you can label a person terrorist, doper, drug user you can ignore their rights.

Cherokee Fred Hussein Jesus

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Stupid old man - oh, my God!!!!! Posted by: AlwaysAskWhy
Absurdities, Atrocities - and "good Germans"
[Report this comment]
Posted by: AlwaysAskWhy on Mar 18, 2009 11:24 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
WHEN YOU ARE POINTING A FINGER AT SOMEONE ELSE, THE OTHER THREE FINGERS ARE POINTING BACK AT YOU.

My sister, who lives in the Phoenix area and is a so-called 'born again Christian', 'really likes' this guy! It's the perfect confirmation that 'ANYONE who can be made to BELIEVE ABSURDITIES, can be made to COMMIT ATROCITIES!

Just as Hitler did with the German People targeting the Jews, this pervert gives the Arizona people targets (prisoners) who, they are told, are responsible for all their woes, frustrations and fears, and then acts out this community venting on these human beings, committing atrocities while the Arizona People cheer.

Let's hope that this investigation goes into great detail about the torture this pervert is inflicting on prisoners and then points the finger back at the Arizona people for allowing it!!

Going even further, lets hope it points the finger at the INSANE ASYLUMS we call PRISONS all over the country that profit from torture and abuse - that the American People ALLOW and ENCOURAGE -- SO THEY CAN WATCH IT ON TV!!!

This is a nation of really sick human beings who feed on and are addicted to greed, violence and voyeurism. Americans have been fed BREAD AND CIRCUSES by the U.S. CORPORATE EMPIRE to keep them sated and distracted -- exactly what the Roman Empire did to the Roman People so they could indulge in an orgy of power, greed and violence with no objections from the people. And, just like the Roman Empire, the U.S. is now in its own demise.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Keep investgating until a more suitable and responsible person is found!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Bearzerker on Mar 20, 2009 12:42 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A sad case... and a sadder story...
he reminds me of the schoolyard bully terrorizing the perps he sees as a scourge to the rest of us...

He is after all, protecting our sensibilities...
and is wasting tax dollars that could be better spent on proven harm reduction strategies...

I think he wants his own TV show modeled on CoPs...

He's just the wrong person in the wrong job...
but at the right time to wake us all up to the realities that people face everyday...
that being...

we are over police'd! and over judiciated!
we are controlled from birth till death!
land of the free!
indeed

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]