ChaosCrew's Blog

Monday, January 14, 2008



PRESCOTT - "I'm one politician who knows where the border is," commented Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as he spoke at the Yavapai Republican Men's Forum at the Hotel St. Michael in Prescott Monday.

Arpaio was here to talk about the new immigration law that went into effect on Jan. 1.

"We have a new employer sanction law to address the illegal immigration problem," he said. "I am a big supporter of small business, but you do have to check out someone's status before you hire

him.

"I have 160 of my officers trained to enforce the federal immigration law," he continued. "Using the state and federal law, if these officers come across anybody in the course of their duties, they have the authority to ask where people are from. If they are illegal, throw them in jail. When we arrest someone and take them to jail, we give them a crash course in English."

He joked that he teaches the illegals to say "God Bless America" and makes them listen to religious songs.

"I'm hoping the Civil Liberties Union will sue me," Arpaio said.

Over the past several months, Arpaio said of the 30,000 people he has processed through the jail, 8,200 people are illegals.

"We investigate them," he said. "Police don't ask, so we ask. We determine their identity."

He stressed that instead of building fences along the border, the country should "put the illegals in jail as soon as they come across." He explained that, if illegals cannot send money back to their loved ones and cannot work, they might not bother to come here.

Arpaio does not like hearing excuses.

"We don't have enough prosecutors; we don't have the manpower," he said. "The bottom line is the feds and the police don't want to lock up illegals. It is frustrating at times. I'll do all I can to put them in jail. It is the role of the sheriff to serve the people."

He asked for help.

"Please follow the new regulations and routine. Show you did everything you could to follow the law. We want to do it right," he said.

Arpaio spoke of his famous tent city.

"We have 2,000 inmates living in those tents," he said. "It's nice in the summertime. I take the media through and the temperature reads 148 degrees. People cannot believe it. But we have people fighting for our country and they are living in tents. As long as I'm sheriff, we will have those tents."

He boasted of his cost per meal per inmate, which averages about 40 cents a day.

"We serve them brunch at 11 a.m. consisting of a bologna sandwich and donated orange," Arpaio explained. "They have a hot meal at dinner. Usually, it costs $1.50 per meal times three."

Arpaio also spoke of his chain gangs, which include women, and making inmates wear pink underwear.

"They hate pink," he laughed. "When I leave office, I will be known as the pink underwear sheriff."

He mentioned the multitude of lawsuits and "garbage" he has put up with in his 15 years as sheriff.

"I took some heat in the last election, but I'm still around. I would've never taken this job if I had to report to a bureaucrat. I will do my best and keep fighting."

He ended his speech on a cryptic note.

"You will be shocked in about three weeks," he said. "When you find out what Maricopa County is doing with the illegals, you will be shocked and angry. It is very disgusting what you are going to find out about your state government."