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Joe Arpaio, immigrant students meet over Arizona law

#1
06-01-2010, 04:51 PM
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Quote:
Sheriff Joe Arpaio's met on Tuesday with a group of college students protesting America's immigration laws - a discussion that produced tears, hugs and laughter.

But it's likely little will change on either side of the immigration debate after the feel-good get-together.

Arpaio said he is compassionate toward the plight of undocumented immigrants but that he will continue to enforce the immigration laws that are on the books.

"I was elected to do a job," Arpaio said. "My job overrides my compassion."

Arpaio cast himself as a dutiful servant of what legislators want and suggested the students approach members of Congress if they want those laws to change.

Gaby Pacheco, 25, instead asked Arpaio to become an ally with supporters of immigration reform in the hopes that a high-profile law-enforcement official like Arpaio would carry more weight than a handful of college students.

Pacheco tried appealing to Arpaio's softer side before giving the self-proclaimed America's Toughest Sheriff a hug at the end of the 45-minute meeting.

"We went up there and showed our humanity to a person who for many years has been criminalizing our communities," Pacheco said after the meeting. "We must make sure that we allow for him as a brother who has been strayed away to come into the light."

The activists all said they were brought into the United States illegally as children but touted their contributions to the community and commitment to continue their college educations.

The five student activists came to Arizona as part of the protests that took place during Memorial Day Weekend, which drew thousands of marchers to downtown Phoenix.

The students began their journey walking from Miami to Washington, D.C., where they met with law enforcement officials and political leaders along the way.

Juan Rodriguez, 21, a native of Colombia, told Arpaio how law enforcement officials on the East Coast described immigrants in their communities as assets. The students said they also met with members of President Barack Obama's administration

After walking to Washington, D.C., the students rode to Arizona where they requested a meeting with Arpaio.

The five students were outnumbered 10-to-1 by their supporters and members of the media as a scrum formed in the lobby outside the Sheriff's Office prior to the meeting, but Arpaio's time with the activists was calm and contemplative. Arpaio shared memories of working in Colombia and Venezuela during his time with the Drug Enforcement Administration; the students told Arpaio he knew more about their native countries than they do.

"If you deport me to Venezuela, I'd have no idea where to start," said Carlos Roa, 22.

Arpaio said the students' quest for immigration reform would have to start at the national level.

"You keep fighting the fight, make sure you get to D.C. and talk to the politicians," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/electi...ents01-ON.html
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#2
06-01-2010, 05:26 PM
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dang. the comments on that page are ridiculous.
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#3
06-01-2010, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by CookieEater View Post
dang. the comments on that page are ridiculous.
Indeed. My best guess most of commentators are low-life hillbillies who have limited mental development. Who the hell will move this country forward-trailer trash or educated illegals?
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#4
06-01-2010, 09:29 PM
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OrlandoDREAM Act
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he could have arrested them on the spot. glad he didn't, but why didn't he?
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#5
06-01-2010, 09:39 PM
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He probably has never put faces and human lives to what he has been doing each day. Maybe this meeting with honest-hearted people appealed to the sensitive and emotional part of him none of us knew he had.

Yes, he could have arrested them. It says a lot about him that he did not. He could pull a Lou Dobbs and support immigration reform, who knows. I'd welcome him.
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#6
06-01-2010, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by OrlandoDREAM Act View Post
he could have arrested them on the spot. glad he didn't, but why didn't he?
probly it would hurt his already shit stained image, that man should've lost his job ages ago, but hey thats the dixie. this is a life example why judges and law enforcement shouldn't be elected by the people
Last edited by Demise; 06-02-2010 at 12:46 AM..
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#7
06-02-2010, 03:35 AM
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plz-724
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He actually doesn't sound like a huge as* on this article. And someone referred to hillbillies on here and I agree with you. All they are worried about is protecting and keeping the bloodline in the family, and they see us as a threat because we are smarter and could probably have some hillbilly wives and husbands. Stopping the tradition of the bloodline in the family.
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