Racial Profiling Sheriff Arpaio Says: ICE "Just Don't Want Me Anymore!"

Preliminary reports indicate Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have chosen not to renew their federal immigration arrest authority agreement (287(g) with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpiao indicated he will no longer be able to complete his "suppression sweeps" however he continues to maintain his authority over the jails. Apraio said of the changes, "this (ICE agreement) just includes the jail, and deep down, I feel that I ought to take it and rip it all up," Arpaio said. Federal officials also refused to comment further.

Under the new agreement deputies and detention officers could continue screening individuals once they are booked into the Maricopa County jail, but federal authorities had not offered to allow Arpaio's street-level "suppression sweeps" to continue. The Racial Profiling Sheriff said in a radio interview last night: "They (ICE) just don't want me, I'm the poster boy," snarled Arpaio. "I say, `they,' that's the Obama administration, the White House, certain members of congress, certain politicians here, [DHS honcho Janet] Napolitano, don't want me enforcing the 287 federal immigration laws on the streets. So they came down here last week. I shocked them by signing both parts of that agreement, on the streets and in the jails. They sent their top guy down the next day -- he took away my street operations and stuck us with the jails."

Without an agreement that authorizes immigration "suppression sweeps" screenings on the street, deputies will need probable cause to detain a suspected illegal immigrant until federal agents can determine the suspect's immigration status.

"He's not going to be able to arrest people for those kind of routine civil-immigration violations," said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Arizona. The news was met with cautious optimism at the ACLU, which is working with plaintiffs in two lawsuits that accuse Arpaio's deputies of racial profiling in the normal course of their duties and in the "crime-suppression operations" the Sheriff's Office has conducted during the past 18 months.

A Republic analysis of arrest records from 10 of the sheriff's crime-suppression operations showed that MORE THAN HALF of the illegal immigrants arrested during the sweeps were held on federal immigration violations and hadn't committed another crime. During a crime-suppression operation in Chandler this summer, ICE agents told sheriff's deputies that they could not arrest suspected illegal immigrants who met that criteria and instead had to free them after giving them a "notice to appear" at ICE for processing.
References:
Sheriff Arpaio may lose some immigration authority
arpaio defiant on 287(g)

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Asks Barack Obama to Terminate 287(g) Program

The brave members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) are taking a stand against Racial Profiling. They have sent a letter to President Obama asking him to terminate the 287(g) program -- which has been so rife with Racial Profiling!
Members of the conservative community and the conservative MSM are already attacking the brave members of the CHC. We need the CHC to stand strong against their attackers and follow through until this program is terminated! STOP THE HATE!!!
From Phoenix New Times:
In a letter to Barack Obama dated Monday, September 28, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus called on the President to terminate the 287(g) program, and cease all of the so-called Memorandums of Understanding authorizing local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law. The letter -- which is signed by Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez, Representative from New York, and Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Chair of the CHC's Immigration Task Force -- takes note of efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to reform the program with supposedly new and improved agreements with local cops. But the missive makes it clear that the CHC, an influential group of lawmakers in a majority Democratic Congress, sees the 287(g) program as fatally flawed. (You can read the letter in its entirety, here.)

"Although its stated purpose is to provide law enforcement a tool to pursue criminals," notes the letter, "it is our experience that state and local law enforcement officials actually use their expanded and often unchecked powers under the program to target immigrants and persons of color. It is our opinion that no amount of reforms, no matter how well-intentioned, will change this disturbing reality." The letter continues, with this verbal coup de grace: "For these reasons we ask you to reconsider your evaluation of 287(g) and instead of reforming it, end it entirely."

This communication comes less than a month after 521 organizations -- including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the ADL, and the ACLU -- signed a letter pressuring the Obama administration to end the much-hated 287(g) program. That letter and this recently-released one from the CHC, which can be viewed on the Web site of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, each cite the current U.S. Department of Justice investigation into 287(g)-poster boy Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office's racial and ethnic profiling ways.

In July, DHS honcho Janet Napolitano announced new agreements for the scores of local law enforcement agencies that DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have partnered with. The new rules were seen as aimed at Arpaio and as a sop to the Hispanic community over concerns that Latinos are being treated as second-class citizens by 287(g)-empowered cops. The new agreements have to be re-signed by the 60-plus agencies already involved within 90 days of the announcement. Those 90 days are almost up. Arpaio stated recently that he would sign the new agreement. But my sources inform me that negotiations are ongoing, and that Arpaio's side has sent DHS a "revised" version of the new agreement that would be acceptable to the sheriff.

Though federal worksite raids have generally been brought to heel under Napolitano, Arpaio continues to violate the terms of his old agreement with constitutionally questionable raids on businesses and neighborhood sweeps seeking undocumented Mexicans. This is why Arpaio remains a lightning rod for pro-immigrant and civil rights groups nationwide. But Arpaio is a symptom of the disease, not the disease itself, which is a deadly mixture racism and xenophobia. The Obama administration has allowed -- under the counsel of DHS secretary Napolitano -- this fever to strengthen. Now they are left with a metaphorical dilemma: Either sever a pox-ridden limb (Arpaio) from the corpus; or once and for all battle the infection to its core.

Whether the Obama-ites have the courage to lance the blisters of this grotesque pandemic remains to be seen. Phoenix civil rights activist Salvador Reza of the Puente movement alerted me to this letter to the President. Thursday morning, he and others in this struggle will demand that the Department of Homeland Security release -- under the Freedom of Information Act (if that still means anything) all correspondence between the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, and ICE/DHS. The purpose of the request is to discover what back-room wheeling and dealing has been going on between the sheriff and the feds. If DHS and ICE do not cough up the docs, then you can safely assume they have something too hide.

Immigration Clearinghouse: Border Action Network scores big win against Minutemen and other vigilante groups

From Immigration Clearinghouse:
Border Action Network scores big win against Minutemen and other vigilante groups
Inter-American Commission Takes on Human Rights Case Against U.S. for Not Prosecuting Border Vigilante Groups
Residents of Douglas, Arizona remember a long history of racial profiling. In the early days, Minutemen drove through their small downtown area, randomly asking people walking down the street if they had their “papers.” Since those early days of border vigilante groups patrolling the border and border towns, harassment and racial profiling has continued. Currently, a Minuteman member faces charges for murdering an Arivaca, Arizona man and his child this summer.

The Border Action Network, an Arizona-based human rights organization, believes the U.S. government should be held to task for turning a blind eye to the groups. “Anti-immigrant vigilantism continues to plague Arizona and the border region,” explains Jennifer Allen, Border Action’s Executive Director.

“We tried everything possible to get local, state and federal officials to address rights violations and criminal behavior of these groups who act like they are above the rule of law. We found that no one had the courage or political will to prosecute them. In some cases, we found collusion between the government and vigilantes.” The group filed a petition with the Organization of American States (OAS) in April 2005. Last week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS ruled that it will hear the case filed by the Border Action Network alleging human rights violations by the United States for allowing anti-immigrant vigilante groups to operate along the US/Mexico border.

The decision, which allows the case to move forward to the merits stage, comes after four years of legal submissions and a hearing before the Commission in Washington, DC in March 2008. The Border Action Network has also asked the Commission for an interim order to stop vigilante violence while the case is heard, in response to the recent murder of the family in Arivaca by members of Shawna Forde’s Minutemen American Defense (MAD).

“The Commission only processes about 10% of the petitions they receive. This important milestone allows the case to move forward and the Commission to determine whether the U.S. government has a duty to prevent and sanction these vigilante groups,” says Seánna Howard of the University of Arizona, attorney for the Border Action Network.

The ruling by the Commission coincides with the launch of a new border vigilante group, Al Garza’s Patriot Coalition, which was scheduled to patrol the border in Cochise County, Arizona from September 18th to October 15th. The Coalition’s patrols were cut short when the group’s leader, Al Garza, a previous colleague of Minuteman leader Chris Simcox, fell ill and was hospitalized. The entire decision by the Commission can be accessed here.

The Republican Lollipop Goons Rejoice America Losing the Olympics in 2016!

Republican media leaders Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity are celebrating the International Olympic Committee's elimination of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and are using this event to bash President Obama, who flew to Copenhagen to lobby IOC members on behalf of Chicago's bid. For instance, Glenn Beck called the news that Chicago's bid had failed "so sweet," Rush Limbaugh declared himself "happy" and "gleeful" with the results, and Matt Drudge proclaimed: "World rejects Obama." They are despicable.

Their Song:
We represent the Lollipop Goons
The Lollipop Goons, the Lollipop Goons.
And in the name of the Lollipop Goons
We hope the President & America FAIL!

We root against American Gain!
Cheer the Olympics' Pain!
Hope the Middle East Reigns!
Hope Healthcare Reform Pains!

Anything to make America & Obama Lose Now!
Tra la la la la la la la la la la la

Michelle Bachmann LIES About Healthcare Reform AGAIN!!!! People from Minnesota, GET HER OUT OF OFFICE!! PLEASE!!

Michelle Bachmann -continues on her insane tangent funded by the healthcare provider lobby. Previously she LIED by saying "Death Care Panels" were in the Healthcare Reform bill. Now, in a speech on the House floor this week, Bachmann claimed the health-care reform bills will establish school "sex clinics," which would exclude parents from their children's health decisions, including abortion. She is STONE COLD CRAZY!! She is pulling these scare tactics OUT OF HER ASS!! (yes I said Ass) You have to use this language to help people understand how RUTHLESS and INSANE her language is.
This is a LIE. Politifact has ripped her apart on this. Anyone with one iota of sense knows Bachmann is LYING!


The problem is, there are so many weak minded Americans who BELIEVE her LIES!! This is ridiculous!!


These Republicans, who are strongly supported by the Healthcare provider lobby, are LYING to the American Public with these OUTRIGHT LIES!! Just to Stop the Healthcare Reform Bill, which ALL AMERICANS WANT, from passing. These nutcases, funded by the Healthcare Provider Lobby, want to brainwash anyone who will listen. How do they get away with it? Why do we let them? How do people continue to VOTE for them??

I ask all logical people in Minnesota: PLEASE DON'T VOTE FOR BACHMANN AGAIN!!! SHE IS INSANE!!! WE ARE ALL SUFFERING BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE HER IN OFFICE!!

New Hero Congressman Grayson Speaks the Truth About Republicans Advocating "Die Quickly!" Nutty Republicans Get their Chonies in a Bunch!

There's a new Democratic Hotshot in town and his name is Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL). I like this guy because he is not afraid to speak the truth. On the House Floor Tuesday night, he gave a brief floor speech where he said: "If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly. That's right. The Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick."

The freshman congressman said the statement was triggered after he read an article by Harvard scientists claiming 44,000 Americans die every year because of a lack of health insurance. "The speech I gave (Tuesday) was meant to underline the fact that we can't wait any longer. America really needs affordable, comprehensive, universal health insurance," Grayson said in an interview Wednesday. "And the speech (Tuesday night) was, I think, motivated by my sense of urgency." I agree Congressman Grayson. We cannot and should not allow status quo to continue. We cannot let the status quo process allow 44,000 more Americans to die every year. That is EXACTLY what the Republicans want when they continue to be the party of NO and continue to follow the biddings of the Healthcare Providers and their Lobbyists.

So how did the Republicans, the party of "No" react to Grayson's Truth Telling? Remember, Joe "You Lie" Wilson never apologized for screaming out at the President. Remember, various Republicans, including nutwad Michelle Bachman, screaming on the floor the LIE "Death Panels" was in the Healthcare bill. (Now Nutwad Bachman is shouting out Abortions in Clinics LIE -- more next post) THEY ARE LIARS!!!!!!! and they Continue to shout out LIES!!

These Republicans have their chonies in a wad. They are using Glenn Beck's blubber tears to demand Grayson apologize for TELLING THE TRUTH!!

Congressman Grayson, I am proud of you! Stand up to those two-faced nutjobs. It is about time Democrats stood up and gave it back to them! Please keep it up for the sake of the American People!

PS: Congressman Grayson is a freshman. He has already gone head to head with Cavuto and others. My hats off to this strong proponent of Truth, Justice and the American Way! My forecast: We will be hearing much more about this "tough as nails" Congressman! He walks the talk!

"2" Sane Republicans Admit the Truth: Birthers & Crybaby Beck are Crazy! Well "2" is a Start!

Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C), in an interview with "The Atlantic" has come forward to speak the truth that the rest of us already know. The "Birthers" AND Glenn Beck are CRAZY! Graham offered his unusually blunt assessment of these fringe elements of his party and conservative media on Thursday, calling Glenn Beck, the popular and bombastic Fox News host, a "cynic" whose show was "antithetical to American values."

"Only in America can you make that much money crying," Graham said of Beck. "Glenn Beck is not aligned with any party. He is aligned with cynicism and there has always been a market for cynics. But we became a great nation not because we are a nation of cynics. We became a great nation because we are a nation of believers."

Senator Graham called the BIRTHERs who question the president's U.S. citizenship "CRAZY" and implored them to "KNOCK OFF THIS CRAP!" so the country could get on to more important matters. Similar to what his friend Senator McCain said during the Town Hall Meetings: "So I'm here to tell you that those who think the president was born somewhere other than Hawaii are CRAZY. He's not a Muslim. He's a good man," Graham said.
I applaud Senator Graham for coming forward with the truth. I also applaud him for making this statement:"I'm going to do everything I can to give him the political support he needs to win these two wars that we're in."
I am only curious as to how long it will take his fellow Republicans to chastise him for his truth telling and side with the Crazy Fringe. My guess is, he will be lucky if he makes the weekend without being assaulted by the extremists of his party.