Posted on 02/15/2009 3:34:34 PM PST by Baladas
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and three fellow Democrats want the Department of Justice to investigate civil rights complaints against controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio.
The lawmakers, in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sent Friday, are seeking a probe into reports Arpaio has used skin color as a basis to search for illegal immigrants in Arizona.
Conyers and Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) want to end a federal agreement that allows the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to enforce immigration laws if the allegations turn out to be accurate.
It is hardly the first time Arpaio, sheriff of Arizona's largest county, has attracted criticism from those who take issue with his approach. Last year, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon (D) and several immigrant rights groups called for a similar investigation, according to the Arizona Republic.
Arpaio has been at the center of other national controversies before, including instituting volunteer chain gangs and issuing prisoners pink underwear.
Conyers and his fellow committee members accuse Arpaio of ordering deputies to search largely Hispanic neighborhoods in and around Phoenix for illegal immigrants. Those in the Hispanic community, the lawmakers wrote, "feel under siege."
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
He’s not Hispanic..you’ve never heard of him before? really? Or were you just being funny.
The dems in congress are absolutely drunk with power. I’d love to see that sherrif answer a few of these clowns questions.
Why would you want to look for Illegals.... Number two in the World for Kidnappings is?? Phoenix Arizona....
Hmm so the Sheriff should Ignore the Laws??
Conyers is merely seeking to protect part of the coalition that elects him, “The Divine One,” etc. etc.
Conyers is the one who needs to be probed.
Yes they are, and that will be their ‘undoing’.
I would love to see a showdown on this and the Fairness Doctrine, then move down the road...
***The dems in congress are absolutely drunk with power. Id love to see that sherrif answer a few of these clowns questions.***
I’ve heard of Joe Arpaio, but I don’t know his family background.
John Conyers should be committed. He is certifiable.
This fact and story has been, until recently, successfully "buried" by Janet Napolitano, the Arizona Republic (Repugnant), and by the liberal democrat Chief of Police for Phoenix.
Let these guys go after Sheriff Joe... He will just rub their noses in this mess in very public ways, and will take lots of pleasure in pointing out the idiocy of the entire situation and the failure of liberals to address very serious and very real problems.
Yes, Joe has a huge ego, but so what... "It ain't braggin' if you can back it up."
Witchhunt is right. Who knew people who want the law enforced would become the targeted minority for ethnic cleansing?
Don’t forget that evil congressman from Cali that has to wear a nose guard when he goes out in the rain.
I wonder if they really want to take on Sheriff Arpaio?
It’s the Revenge of Janet.
IIRC, Sheriff Joe backed Janet in her last election bid.
Well, that’s gratitude for you...
I don’t mean to be callous, but someone needs to run an ad on BET and black radio stations pointing out the simple fact that cheap illegal labor raises black unemployment and lowers wages for African Americas, as they are disproportionately unskilled or semi-skilled labor.
That’s a good idea.
Conyers takes on everyone. He’s one of those people who makes a big splash to impress his constituents, when he probably does very little for them.
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