PHOENIX—Alfredo Gutierrez is a former 12-year Arizona state senator and author of “To Sin Against Hope,” a memoir that chronicles his lifelong struggle to advance immigration reform and dissects the systematic racism that has formed a century of border policy, exposing the timidity of today’s immigration advocacy organization and political leaders.
He issued the following statement in response to a federal judge’s ruling that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), led by the anti-immigrant Sherriff Joe Arpaio, has systematically employed racial profiling against Latinos. The office was ordered to stop using Latino ancestry as a factor in making law-enforcement decisions:
“Sheriff Arpaio’s misguided practices are a continuation of the same fear-based tactics that led to the deportation of my citizen father eight decades ago. Arpaio continues to support inhumane laws like SB 1070, which drops any pretense that the undocumented are the sole target and effectively encourages police officers to target Latinos.
“Because of practices like Arpaio’s, I’ve witnessed mothers on their way to church separated tearfully from their children and taken into custody, and entire families humiliated for the pleasure and political benefit of a pathetic sheriff. I’m grateful that Judge Snow is taking steps to reign in Arpaio, particularly given that the Obama administration has been woefully inadequate at keeping him in check.
“As long as our federal government continues to empower local officials with programs like Secure Communities and 287(g), Latinos across the country will be at risk of being targeted by the unfair, cruel practices the court has rejected.”
jueves, mayo 2
