Several have been concerned about The Grand Canyon State. They happen to be debating within the state. The problem over SB1070, which allows authorities to verify the immigration status of anybody they believe may be illegal, is still unsettled, as the Obama administration has questioned the constitutional grounds of the law, which Governor Jan Brewer has decried. The feud between the Grand Canyon State and also the federal government has intensified, as the Justice Department is suing the controversial Sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio. An investigation was being conducted on civil rights abuse. The Department of Justice says Joe Arpaio didn’t cooperate in this.
Joe Arpaio discriminating
The original investigation was launched on suspicion the tactics employed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio deliberately target Hispanics, irrespective of legal status, in order to “sweep” illegal immigrants. The Los Angeles Times reports that Hispanic areas were targeted by the Maricopa County Sheriff deputies that stopped everybody for anything. At the point of detention, deputies will check the immigration status of suspects. This practice has been carried out since before the controversial Arizona immigration law was proposed. The Justice Department requested documentation on these sweeps from Sheriff Arpaio, which he was loathe to comply with. Federal investigators weren’t given the material requested. There weren’t even allowed into the building.
Lawsuits are the norm
Lawsuits are seen by the Maricopa Sheriff already. It has happened many times. He has been sued numerous times by families of inmates who have passed away in his jail, the notorious Tent City, which is really virtually a collection of tents in the desert surrounded by high fences with barbed wire at the top. There is also an ongoing grand jury investigation into Sheriff Arpaio and also the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for corruption, as outlined by ABC. The Office got the request for materials and paperwork through a year ago. This originated from the Justice Department. All the documents about these sweeps were found by a federal judge to be destroyed. The attorneys suing the Sheriff’s Office had every right to view the documents.
Further reading
ABC News
blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/justice-department-sues-arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio.html
LA Times
latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lawsuit-arpaio-20100903,,2874529.story
