America's toughest sheriff says he's no 'whipping boy' for Justice Department

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
12/17/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Sheriff Joe Arpaio accused of carrying out a blatant pattern of discrimination against Latinos

Called by some as "America's toughest Sheriff" Joe Arpaio called a scathing U.S. Justice Department report about his office's tactics against Latinos marks "a sad day for America as a whole." Arpaio declared at a news conference in response to the report, "Don't come here and use me as the whipping boy for a national and international problem."

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was once widely popular among voters in Arizona. However, his popularity has waned since 2007, but remains positive among registered Republicans.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Arpaio denounced the report as a politically motivated attack by the Obama administration that will make Arizona unsafe.

The report claims that Arpaio's office carried out a blatant pattern of discrimination against Latinos.

The report stated that Arpaio's office held a "systematic disregard" for the Constitution amid a series of immigration crackdowns that have turned the lawman into a prominent national political figure.

The Department of Homeland Security cut off ties this week with the Maricopa County sheriff's office that allowed trained deputies to enforce immigration laws. Homeland Security also will restrict the sheriff's office use of the Secure Communities program, which uses fingerprints collected in local jails to identify illegal immigrants.

"Illegal criminal offenders will go undetected and be dumped back out on the street near you, and for that you can thank your federal government," Arpaio said.

A senior Department of Homeland Security official maintains that any criminal offender found to be in the country illegally will still be detained, just not in the Maricopa County Jail. Those individuals will now be held in federal facilities and not released back into the public.

Arpaio faces a January 4 deadline for saying whether he wants to work out an agreement with the Justice Department to make changes ending discrimination. If not, the federal government will sue him, possibly putting in jeopardy millions of dollars in federal funding for Maricopa County.

"We are going to cooperate the best we can. And if they are not happy, I guess they can carry out their threat and go to federal court," Arpaio said.

Joe Arpaio of Phoenix, Arizona is the most famous sheriff in America. He's best known for his tough policies against illegal immigrants and the no-nonsense way he runs the county jail.

First voted into office in 1992, Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County. This includes management of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, county jail, courtroom security, prisoner transport, service of warrants, and service of process. Arpaio styles himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff." He is well known for his outspoken stance against illegal immigration. Arpaio has become a flashpoint for controversy surrounding Arizona's SB1070 anti-illegal immigration act.

Arpaio was once widely popular among voters in Arizona. However, his popularity has waned since 2007, but remains positive among many Republicans and conservatives.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Sheriff Joe Arpaio, immigration, ethics violation

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1 - 1 of 1 Comments

Esther M Ventura Ferencz
1 year ago
I say to this? GO JOE GO``` we have one of the most corrupt and incompetant JDs ever in the history of this nation. Eric Holder is an evil, despicable LIAR and fraud as well as one of the worst forms of racists to exist, IN that he holds a postion of power and has excempted HIMSELF from the LAW as per the GUNS DEAL. HOLDER began his postion w.a HUGE RACIST CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER! Recall the Black Panthers threating stance at a voting place in Philly???? HE let that be a BYGONE.......THIS man is dangerous and a disgrace to America, BE he black, white, yellow, pink or any crayon color. HES sheer evil.

ITS astounding the more we see how this corrupt evil Obama administration functions as ITS OWN WORLD and any laws as to the Constitution? NAH they ignore.

Sheriff Joe is/was doing his job, Mexican or whites or yellows or greens all treated as same in his office. NOW are the BIG NOSE FED GOVT start tossing suits out. LET EM. BRING it ON HOLDER! YOU should have neen impeached long ago for derelection and abuse of duties.

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