Joe Arpaio Pushes Back On Illegal Immigration Enforcement

When I first noted that the Feds were looking to limit Arpaio’s authority to enforce immigration laws, I said there were State’s Rights issues involved. Looks like Arpaio noticed that, too.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona sheriff known for cracking down on people who are in the country illegally launched a crime and immigration sweep in northwestern metro Phoenix on Friday, a half day after officials in Washington limited his powers to make federal immigration arrests.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose sweeps have led to allegations of racial profiling, said the rebuff from Washington won’t stop him. He said he can still arrest immigrants under a state smuggling law and a federal law that gives all local police agencies more limited power to detain suspected illegal immigrants.

“It doesn’t bother me, because we are going to do the same thing,” said Arpaio, whose deputies had arrested 16 people by Friday evening on unspecified charges. “I am the elected sheriff. I don’t take orders from the federal government.”

Cross-posted at RWV.

Share this!

Enjoy reading? Share it with your friends!