Racist, nativist Sheriff Joe isn't above the law anymore

[marmar]

:nopity:



via Truthdig:



Sun Sets on Anti-Immigration Sheriff
Posted on Oct 9, 2009


Joe Arpaio has been the focus of protests by immigration and human rights groups, citing his overreach of power and poor treatment of immigrants in his custody.

Joe Arpaio, a sheriff in Arizona known for his rabid anti-immigration stance and poor treatment of undocumented immigrants in his custody, has finally lost the federal power to enforce immigration law—a power reserved for federal agents, not county sheriffs.

The revoking of powers is criticized by pro-Arpaio forces as “political” move by the Obama administration, while others make the point that federal officers enforce federal laws, such as immigration, while state and county officers like Arpaio traditionally enforce state and county laws. —JCL

The Guardian:

A controversial Arizona sheriff known for taking a hard line against illegal immigrants has been stripped of some of his powers in what he described as a political move by the Obama administration.

Joe Arpaio, a gruff lawman who styles himself as America’s toughest sheriff, has won acclaim from US anti-immigrant forces for his relentless pursuit of mostly Hispanic illegal immigrants in Maricopa county, Arizona, a fast-growing county of 4 million people that is home to Phoenix, the nation’s fifth largest city.

Arpaio’s aggressive tactics include the jailing of illegal immigrants in tent cities surrounded by barbed wire in the middle of Arizona’s searingly hot summers, the reduction of meal costs to 20 cents per day, the use of pink jail clothing for men, and chain gangs for women inmates.

Read more

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/20091009_sun_sets_on_anti-immigration_sheriff/

[vadawg]

1. i think this only effects maricopa county, i think that other depts can still process illegals

and work with the ICE. Seems to be it could be political in nature unless the feds also take the powers away form other depts..

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Local police can be "deputized"...

(I'm not sure of the exact term or how it works) to enforce federal immigration laws. Other sheriffs down there may or may not be, but Maricopa County did have the authority, which was just taken away becaue Arpaio abused it.

Arpaio claims that nothing will change because he still can enforce immigration law, just as he can "assist" the feds in any other lawbreaking, and he will enforce state and local immigration law.

[vadawg]

5. yup thats what im saying, it does seem political in nature if theres not charges pending

or an investigation if they just take the power for dealing with illegals from this one dept. I am pretty sure we are still doing it, at least i hope so

[theoldman]

2. Eventually he will end up in prison and get his just reward.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. The Times and NPR were all over this, but...

last night I was flipping through the channels and saw this pig Arpaio on Beck's trainwreck of a show.

Seeing Beck kiss this guy's ass is lot more repulsive than hearing about it.

[Generic Other]

6. He threatened to put me in pink undies after the 2000 selection

because I wrote every member of the electoral college begging them not to allow Bush to steal an election.

[jmowreader]

7. Howcum "America's Toughest Sheriff" is always a corrupt bastid?

The last holder of that self-proclaimed title was Gerald Hege from Davidson County, NC. He finished his tenure as America's Toughest Sheriff under house arrest.

The current holder of the "America's Worst Asshole" award is Arpaio, who in some ways makes Hege look honest. I don't remember Hege building a tent city, for instance. Nor do I remember reports of Hege feeding his inmates rancid bologna like Arpaio does.

When is someone going to find a tough sheriff that doesn't need to be sent to his own jail? Just askin', y'know?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. I heard him on TV this morning

He was crowing about how he had imprisoned over 30,000 illegals. He said that if the federal government no longer allows him to do this, he will operate according to state law which he claims also allows him to lock up illegal immigrants (which I doubt). His harsh attitude towards the federal government sounded almost freeperish.