Groups Call for Investigation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Earlier this month, MALDEF called on Attorney General Eric Holder to initiate a federal investigation against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio for civil right violations against Latino citizens and immigrant detainees. Subsequently, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), and the chairs of the Judiciary Subcommittees called on Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate allegations of misconduct by Sheriff Arpaio.
Most recently, Sheriff Arpaio forced hundreds of immigrants to participate in a costly and degrading chain-gang march that violated legal norms against public humiliation. Their destination was Tent City, a jail whose conditions have been found unconstitutional by both the County Attorney and a federal judge. Even more jarring, many of the individuals forced to endure this abuse have not even been convicted of a crime, but are in pretrial detention under Sheriff Arpaio’s auspices.
The recent events have caused several advocacy groups to demand that the new administration put an end to Sheriff Arpaio’s gross violations of the Constitution and human decency. America’s Voice, an immigrant rights group, has set up a petition calling for the Attorney General to investigate Sheriff Arpaio. We encourage every single TII subscriber to sign the petition and show their support for the civil rights of all Americans.