Posts Tagged ‘Deputies’
Appeals Court to Consider Sherrif Arpaio’s Illegal Immigrant Traffic Stops
September 14th, 2012
Posted in Immigration News
Maricopa County, AZ- A San Francisco- based appeals court said it would consider Arizona Sherriff Joe Arpaio’s request to lift an injunction barring his officers from stopping people based solely of the suspicion that they are illegal immigrants.
The three-judge court said they would consider lifting the injunction after testimony from Arpaio’s attorneys on Thursday.
Arpaio is a controversial figure and is currently on trial, facing accusations that he and his department is guilty of racially profiling Latinos. The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU in 2007, well before Arizona passed it’s extremely controversial anti-immigration law which has a provision that requires state and local law enforcement to check the immigration status of anyone they detain.
Latino residents in Arpaio’s district allege that his deputies stopped and detained people without probable cause. Some of the detainees involved in the suit were legal residents with work visas, green cards or citizenship, but were targeted simply because of their race.
Some of the people involved in the suit also allege that Arpaio ordered raids based on letters from Arizona residents, who complained of dark-skinned people congregating, rather than legitimate criminal reports.
Getting the right documents, like a visa or green card, in order to avoid unnecessary detention is not exactly an easy task, therefore many immigrants chose to enter and live in the country illegally. But immigration attorneys make the endeavor of a legal presence much easier and increase their client’s chances of becoming legally recognized.
Joe Arpaio Denies Racial Profiling in Court
July 25th, 2012
Posted in Immigration News
PHOENIX, AZ – Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed “America’s toughest sheriff,” has gotten himself into a sticky situation after immigration activists have accused him of racial profiling and have taken him to court.
Arpaio, who has denied that his deputies targeted people because of the color of their skin, is currently in the midst of a class-action lawsuit that will determine whether police can target illegal immigrants without racial profiling.
“I am against anyone racial profiling … today as in my 50 years in law enforcement,” said Arpaio in court. “We do not arrest people because of the color of their skin.”
However, Arpaio was questioned about a news release he issued after an illegal immigrant sweep in 2008, in which he was criticized for going after “brown-skinned people with cracked windshields.”
The suit was filed against Arpaio and his office on behalf of five Hispanic plaintiffs who say they were stopped by deputies because they were Latin Americans.
The plaintiffs are not seeking money damages, but merely a statement from Arpaio’s office acknowledging that racial profiling has occurred and that it will do something to prevent this from happening again.
Unfortunately, racial profiling is something many immigrants struggle with across the nation. Whether you are an immigrant who has legal status or an undocumented alien, you have are certain civil rights that must be upheld. If you or a loved one have been targeted because of the color of your skin, turn to a leading immigration lawyer right away.
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Mississippi Senate chairman kills immigration bill
April 5th, 2012
Posted in Immigration News
MISSISSIPPI – A Mississippi Senate chairman has let an immigration bill get killed after choosing not to bring it up for a vote before its Tuesday deadline.
According to Judiciary B Committee Chairman Hob Bryan, D-Amory, the bill was just a way to have police officers micromanaged.
“We would be telling local policemen how they should behave when they arrest somebody. We would be telling sheriff’s deputies what they should do when they arrest somebody. And I just don’t think that’s a proper role for the Legislature,” said Bryan.
Similar to other immigration laws, the bill would have required law enforcement officers to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement every time they arrest someone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. Those that do not comply would have been fined up to $5,000 per day.
In addition, the bill also would have also prohibited any illegal immigrant from applying for a driver’s or business license.
“There’s so much confusion going on with people. I just simply think that this is about America being a nation of laws and that people that are violating our borders and coming here, that law enforcement needs to have the responsibility of making sure, if they’re among the general population, we identify them and upholding the law,” added Bryan.
If you need help with an immigration-related matter, turn to an immigration lawyer immediately. Immigration attorneys assist with a variety of issues, including legal status, family reunification and criminal matters. They will work diligently to ensure that your case ends with the best possible outcome.
No matter what your case entails, rest assured it will end positively when you have a team of immigration lawyers on your side. Contact an immigration attorney today to get started on your case.