Joe Arpaio Named Country's 'Worst Sheriff' By Janet Murguia, NCLR President
(FILES) Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks with a reporter outside his famous tent city jail for misdemeanor offenses May 3, 2010. The US government has followed through with its warnings to a prominent Arizona sheriff, filing suit against him...
PHOENIX — A prominent national advocacy group for Latinos has joined a call for the self-proclaimed "America's toughest sheriff" to resign from office amid a wide range of civil rights violations, botched sex crimes investigations and other alleged abuses.
In a news conference Thursday in Phoenix, National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia called Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio "America's worst sheriff" and says it's time for him to resign.
Her group long has been critical of Arpaio but called for his resignation for the first time Thursday because Murguia says not enough has been done locally to remove him from office.
The five-term sheriff has raised more than $1.1 million in the past year for his re-election campaign.
His office says it doesn't discriminate against Latinos.
Related on HuffPost:
GET TO KNOW THE HARSHEST IMMIGRATION LAWS IN THE U.S.:
The Template: California Proposition 187 (1994)
California's Proposition 187 was submitted to the voters with the full support of then Republican governor Pete Wilson. It essentially blamed undocumented immigrants for the poor performance of the state economy in the early 1990s. The law called for cutting off benefits to undocumented immigrants: prohibiting their access to health care, public education, and other social services in California. It also required state authorities to report anyone who they suspected was undocumented.
<strong>Status:</strong> The law passed with the support of 55 percent of the voters in 1994 but declared unconstitutional 1997. The law was killed in 1999 when a new governor, Democrat Gray Davis, refused to appeal a judicial decision that struck down most of the law. Even though short-lived, the legislation paved the way for harsher immigration laws to come. On the other hand, the strong reaction from the Hispanic community and immigration advocates propelled a drive for naturalization of legal residents and created as many as one million new voters.
The Worst: Arizona SB 1070
The Arizona Act made it a misdemeanor for an undocumented immigrant to be within the state lines of Arizona without legal documents allowing their presence in the U.S. This law has been widely criticized as xenophobic and for encouraging racial profiling. It requires state authorities to inquire about an individual's immigration status during an arrest when there is "reasonable suspicion" that the individual is undocumented. The law would allow police to detain anyone who they believe was in the country illegally.
<strong>Status:</strong> The law was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010. But it has generated a swirl of controversy and questions about its constitutionality. A federal judge issued a ruling that blocked what critics saw as some of the law's harshest provisions.
House: 35-31 (4/12/2011)
Following Arizona's Footsteps: Georgia HB 87
The controversy over Arizona's immigration law was followed by heated debate over Georgia's own law. HB 87 required government agencies and private companies to check the immigration status of applicants. This law also limited some government benefits to people who could prove their legal status.
<strong>Status:</strong> Although a federal judge temporarily blocked parts of the law considered too extreme, it went into effect on July 1st. 2011.
House: 113-56
Senate: 39-17
This bill, which was approved in 2010, bans contractors and subcontractors employ undocumented workers from having state construction contracts. The bill also protects employees who report construction sites that hire illegal workers. To ensure that contractors hire legal workers, the law requires employers to use the identification verification system E-verify, based on a compilation of legally issued Social Security numbers.
<strong>Status:</strong> Approved on June 8th 2010.
House: 188-6 (07/08/2010)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/" target="_hplink">Flickr photo by DonkeyHotey</a>
A Spin Off of Arizona: Utah HB 497
Many states tried to emulate Arizona's SB 1070 law. However, most state legislatures voted against the proposals. Utah's legislature managed to approve an immigration law based on a different argument. Taking into consideration the criticism of racial profiling in Arizona, Utah required ID cards for "guest workers" and their families. In order to get such a card workers must pay a fee and have clean records. The fees go up to $2,500 for immigrants who entered the country illegally and $1,000 for immigrants who entered the country legally but were not complying with federal immigration law, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/06/nation/la-na-illegal-immigration-20110306" target="_hplink">according to the LA Times.</a>
<strong>Status: </strong> Law went into effect on 03/15/2011
House: 59-15 (03/04/2011)
Senate: 22-5 (03/04/2011)
The Most Comprehensive: Florida HB-1C
Florida's immigration law prohibits any restrictions on the enforcement of federal immigration law. It makes it unlawful for undocumented immigrants within the state to apply for work or work as an independent contractor. It forbids employers from hiring immigrants if they are aware of their illegal status and requires work applicants to go through the E-verify system in order to check their Social Security number.
<strong>Status: </strong>effective since October 1st, 2010
The Hot Seat: Alabama HB 56
The new immigration law in Alabama is considered the toughest in the land, even harder than Arizona's SB 1070.
It prohibits law enforcement officers from releasing an arrested person before his or her immigration status is determined. It does not allow undocumented immigrants to receive any state benefit, and prohibits them from enrolling in public colleges, applying for work or soliciting work in a public space. The law also prohibits landlords from renting property to undocumented immigrants, and employers from hiring them. It requires residents to prove they are citizens before they become eligible to vote. The law asked every school in the state to submit an annual report with the number of presumed undocumented students, but this part, along with others, were suspended by federal courts.
<strong>Status:</strong> Approved June 2nd, 2011
House: 73-28 (04/05/2011)
Senate: 23-11 (05/05/2011)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/longislandwins/" target="_hplink">Flickr photo by longislandwins</a>
PHOENIX — A prominent national advocacy group for Latinos has joined a call for the self-proclaimed "America's toughest sheriff" to resign from office amid a wide range of civil rights violation...
PHOENIX — A prominent national advocacy group for Latinos has joined a call for the self-proclaimed "America's toughest sheriff" to resign from office amid a wide range of civil rights violation...
The Phoenix Human Relations Commission voted 13-0 on Monday to call for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to resign. Three members were not present and...
PHOENIX -- An Arizona sheriff whose office has been accused of a wide range of civil rights violations conditionally agreed Wednesday to take part in...
Two years ago today Miriam Mendiola-Martinez gave birth while in police custody, after being arrested for using false documents to obtain work. She says she...
PHOENIX -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio apologized Monday to victims for his office's botched investigations of a large number of sex-crimes cases as the tough-talking lawman...
If I was Sheriff Joe, I wouldn't be mad, if anything I would be pretty happy with the way things are going. If anyone should be mad it is the citizens of Maricopa County.
Joe, I know these bleeding hearts have nothing better to do than make trouble for the good ones. That's because they like evil and cannot understand a good man such as yourself.
Marine_Staff_Sergeant: Joe, I know these bleeding hearts have nothing better to
Joe is a worthless a hole. This goes furthur than latinos, he is cruel to everyone in that jail, COME ON PEOPLE VOTE HIS ASS OUT!! Get up and vote, come on!!
Jusitied_patriot: Joe is a worthless a hole. This goes furthur than
How dare this man try to enforce the soveriegnty of the US and her borders? What is this sherrif trying to accomplish anyway? Maybe we would like to have anarchy and daily decapitations, like they enjoy, south of the border and who is he to deprive us of this?? FIRE THIS MAN!!
icon22: How dare this man try to enforce the soveriegnty of
The most telling part of this article was the two paragraphs at the end titled "The Template: California Proposition 187 (1994) "
It told me that in 1994 the most liberal, illegal alien-hugging state in the country BY POPULAR VOTE stated clearly that they wanted to get this cancer under control.
Then the politicians flipped-off the majority of California voters and overturned Prop 187. Now the minority is in control -- cancer took over the state.
Old_Grady: The most telling part of this article was the two
Sheriff Joe Apartheid's stock would go up if he could create a nice jail for the likes of those who are disrespectful to our president -- belligerent finger wavers and such...
Captain_Leafheart: Sheriff Joe Apartheid's stock would go up if he could
Randy Parazz, the gentleman responsible for helping to recall Russell Pearce, has targeted Sheriff Joe as the one next to be removed. Then it's on to Jan _Brewhaha!
TruthRains: Randy Parazz, the gentleman responsible for helping to recall Russell
The three year D.O.J. Investigation, and findings of "The Worst Racial Profiling, and Human Rights abuses in known History, began after many years of prior complaints to prior Presidents.
Arpaio claims it is political, and a conspiracy.
I doubt the "Human Beings" who's Rights have been Trampled can see the political motivation, or conspiracy theory?
Especially the ones who's arms were broken trying to get them to sign papers, or those who are now Dead.
How many more must Die under this Monsters hand?
The M.C.S.O. should be taken over and run like all other Sheriffs Offices in America!
The D.O.J. should give Arpaio the Evidence he demands in Court, where he should face Justice for his Crimes.
Just because he has Voters fooled with his "Pink Re-Election Gimmicks" doesn't mean he should be "Above the Law".
To: True Justice for all.
DavidNichols: Will Justice Finally be Served? The three year D.O.J. Investigation,
NCLR? tell me again why they get millions of taxpayer dollars to push their unAmerican and unConstitutional agenda.
Strip their funding NOW!
Before anyone starts pulling the race card, I'm married to a latina, she and her whole family agree. Relatively few legal citizen hispanics and latinos support The Race (talk about racists!) Florida was a good example of that. Not only did they make their choice clear within the GOP but for the general election as well...almost half of them voted for Obama last time, they won't be making that mistake again.
media_sux: NCLR? tell me again why they get millions of taxpayer
the whole world is wrong but you are right....and you are living proof of the finding that the lowest IQ kids are most likely to end up racists, bigots and conservatives
not_so_sure: the whole world is wrong but you are right....and you
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02/ 2/12 05:29 PM ET Associated Press