After all, we can't have Americans calling the authorities to report folks breaking the law, can we?

Latino leaders and faith-based organizations are calling for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to disconnect the hotline he created for people to report information about undocumented immigrants.

The hotline, they say, perpetuates a climate of fear within the immigrant community, raises the chance of racial profiling and opens the possibility for people to take revenge on former friends and family.

"What right does he have to investigate people based on the color of their skin, or their accent or the way they look," said Phoenix attorney Antonio Bustamante. "I want him to stop this nonsense and enforce criminal law instead of going after landscapers and nannies. He needs to stop this hotline."

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"There's nothing unconstitutional about putting up a hotline," Arpaio said, pointing out that U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have similar hotlines.

In fact, Arpaio told The Republic, he is stepping up efforts to crack down on illegal immigration by forbidding undocumented immigrants to visit friends and family in county jails. "Once they come in, we're going to have to arrest them and turn them over to ICE."

Actually, I'm all for a climate of fear in the border-jumper community. After all, since they are law-breakers they ought to be afraid -- very afraid.

What next -- will these folks protest CrimeStoppers as a violation of the rights of the Felon-American community?

Posted by: Greg at 03:17 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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