Yes, I do not like Joe Arpaio because he epitomizes the racism behind the immigration problem. As a law enforcement official, Joe Arpaio is supposed to enforce the law equally among all those within his jurisdiction. And yes, I am aware of the need to profile people in order to keep everyone safe. Everyone profiles based on their life’s experiences. We all do.
The problem is when the profiling impedes the ability to do the job properly, as evidenced by several judges telling Arpaio to cease and desist and when the profiling is ethnically driven. Undocumented immigrants come from all countries. They are dark and lighted skinned. Not too long ago, it was an undocumented white immigrant from England that tried to assassinate Donald Trump. It wasn’t a dark-skinned Mexican.
Yet, in light of this inconvenient fact, Joe Arpaio targeted Hispanics during his immigration round-up actions. His targeting was based on skin color. Had, Joe Arpaio set up road blocks asking everyone for immigration papers then I would not be criticizing him today because it would have demonstrated an intention of equally applying the law to all, instead of selectively enforcing it based on skin color.
That is the underlining problem with the immigration debate, it is based on the skin color or country of origin instead of equally among all immigrants. I am fine with US citizens insisting that all border crossings be closed and all immigration stopped. As citizens that is their right.
The problem is when only certain countries or ethnicities are targeted. The targeting makes it racist.
Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Why is he not advocating one on the Canada-US border? Or how about not advocating to close the US free-visa loophole with White-European countries that have allowed terrorists to enter the US, unlike the fact that no terrorist has been proven to have entered through the US-Mexico border?
Because it is not about keeping the US safe from terrorists, but rather from people from south of the border. The wall is only an excuse to target Mexicans and other minorities because of the fear, some have, that the US is becoming less white.
That is my problem with selectively choosing what immigration “problem” to solve.
A few years ago coming back from Acuna, I had the folks at one of those 25 mile border checkpoints throw me into secondary inspection. I just assumed they were hassling me because it was a slow day and they’d get brownie points for searching a non-Hispanic white (to show they weren’t profiling Hispanics). I had to open the trunk, show ID and answer a ton of questions about my reasons for being in the road. When I got back to my hoteI, found a baby had been kidnapped at a hospital by a middle aged white woman. I fit that profile and it was unusal for women business travellers dressed in suits to be on that road so they searched my car. Fortunately, I obey our laws and treat officers with respect even if I disagree with what they are doing, so other than making a long day longer, it was no big deal. If the majority of illegal aliens in Sheriff Joe’s county are Hispanic I can see why he profiles Hispanics. He is also probably looking for other things like cars that seem overloaded with passengers or heavy in the trunk area, folks carrying backpacks who look like they’ve been traveling a long time and day laborer pickup zones. In short behavior and appearances may also be flags. I believe we should prosecute all illegal aliens regardless of ethnicity, but if certain regions have higher levels of one ethnicity make sense so does profiling.
Martin just doesn’t get this. It’s like strip searching your grandmother at the airport to prove you’re not discriminating against arabs.
Gov Clinton ordered his state troopers to target Hispanics. He went to be President and now his wife states Hispanics are numbers for votes. Then they both turn around and profess love for Hispanics ?
I agree there should tougher enforcement of the canadian border but then we have shores. How many Canadians and others are fleeing to the US ?
The southern border has everybody from everywhere sneaking in. At the same time Mexico has draconian immigration laws.
Profiling Hispanics in Arizona, that means anyone that appears to be Hispanics. Italians, Arabs, Turks, Greeks, Filipinos, most South Americans. So are Mexicans the only ones being stopped ? What about the white skin, blue eyes, blonde hair Hispanics, are they being stopped ?
Is his motive racist, political, or law enforcement ? Btw, are brown skinned people the only ones in Tent city ? I’ve seen a lot of white and black skinned in his jails .
Question is a wall to keep the US white ? Then what color is Mexico trying to keep with its walls(literally) ? The term wall is interchangeable according to Hillary, isn’t that odd there is no criticism? A more accurate definition would be a fence but that doesn’t sound as bad.
Once again, I ask how many of you have used the terms mayate, gabacho(?), kike, Mick, kraut, frog, zipper head, dot or rag head any racist term ?
Perhaps the sheriff is being attacked because he is white.