Rep. Jared Polis: 287g caused "sweep of terror", smears Joe Arpaio (still earning his award from Mexico)

Speaking on the House floor yesterday, Colorado Rep. Jared Polis sharply criticized the 287g program and smeared Sheriff Joe Arpaio. While reading his remarks (polis.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=150774) it's worth recalling that back in 2006 he received an award from the Mexican government due to his strong support for illegal immigration as a state official. Now he's able to take it to the national level, saying things like:

We’ve seen Sheriff Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona despicably racially profile and round up Latinos in front of TV cameras as he has enforced his 287(g) power. We’ve watched in horror as he and others - a disgrace to the uniforms that they wear - have detained people based solely upon the color of their skin.

Actually, that hasn't happened. Arpaio is accused by the American Civil Liberties Union (currently directly collaborating with the Mexican government) and others of racial profiling, and the Department of Justice is investigating him, but he hasn't been convicted of it... except by Polis. In fact, in the next paragraph Polis admits as much:

Arpaio is now thankfully under investigation for civil rights violations for his discriminatory, unconstitutional searches and seizures. Nevertheless, I’m sad to announce that last Friday afternoon ICE announced 287(g) agreements with sixty-seven state and local law enforcement agencies across the country.

287(g) scares victims and witnesses of crimes to avoid contacting police for fear of being mistreated. 287(g) invites exploitation by those who know that they won’t be reported to police, because it combines the contradictory duties into the same police force.

What is the result? A sweep of terror that has frightened legal and undocumented immigrants into hiding, undermining both law enforcement efforts across our country. 287(g) programs undermine the spirit and text of the U.S. Constitution, and I encourage Congress to repeal 287 (g).

If anyone wants to do something, go to one of Polis' events and ask him about the award he got. Try to tease out of him why they gave it to him. I can suggest some starting points that might elicit that type of reaction; if anyone is actually willing to do something in that regards leave a comment.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:53 · · Importance: 4