More criticism aimed at Arpaio's crime sweeps

by Jeremy Foster, Brandon Donahoo/KTAR (October 19th, 2009 @ 3:04pm)

Policy >>

Comments:45

PHOENIX - There is more national criticism against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his crime sweeps.

The Assistant Director of Homeland Security, John Morton, says the sheriff's sweeps are overbroad and don't have a particular focus.

"The sweeps that he conducts in Maricopa County aren't consistent with our priorities as an agency," Morton told CNN.

Arpaio shot back at Morton and Homeland Security saying they are not his boss.

"Well he doesn't know what he is talking about," said Arpaio of Morton. "I have the right as the sheriff to do crime suppression and lock up those that violate the law. He can't tell me, the federal government, how I enforce the laws of the state of Arizona."

"Come on after me if he thinks I am violating any federal laws," Arpaio added.

Arpaio still has support from at least one Arizona official. Republican Senator John McCain is questioning Homeland Security Chief and former Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, for taking away the sheriff's federal arrest privileges.

Napolitano and the Obama administration recently made changes to the 287g agreement, which allowed Arpaio to conduct crime sweeps to detain illegal immigrants. The changes revoked Arpaio's privileges under federal law to conduct crime sweeps.

Since then, Arpaio has continued to conduct crime sweeps saying he is enforcing Arizona's laws instead of the federal government's laws, which has sparked controversy nationwide.

Last 5 Comments

• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Nappy

  Jim Sanson

  She should be fired. She is not here to protect us, and she is only here to play power games with the MAN DOING HIS JOB AND PROTECTING US... She has tried tying his hands 1000s of times, and she keeps failing. OBAMA, I will just up if you just fire her....

  45832
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  John Morton

  Nimsisland

  Whoever he is is so out of touch. Phoenix is almost a full blown Sanctuary City and without Joe it sure will be. Keep at it Joe!!!

  45735
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  "Overbroad"

  azdriver

  Of course the sweeps are "broad". Perhaps even "overbroad". You have to do it that way to avoid profiling. There is a particular purpose. The purpose is to arrest law breakers.

  45719
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  can the head of DHS

  Dan H

  It is time people started contacting their elected officials and demand the head of DHS be dismissed from public service for failure to perform their duties.

  45605
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  arpaio the clown

  arnoldd

  Buduson interviewed Bill Straus, regional director of the Arizona Anti-Defamation League, who agreed that what the sheriff had just admitted to was racial profiling. Which just happens to be the very thing the U.S. Justice Department is investigating him for. (Boy, is its job gonna be easy!)Stopping people because of their appearance -- that's profiling," Straus stated, emphatically. But who, oh, who is gonna stop our out-of-control, liver-spotted autocrat? Barack Obama? ICE head John Morton? His boss and DHS head Janet Napolitano? Attorney General Eric Holder? Superman? The Green Hornet?

  45525
• Read More Comments