Controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio promised that he will “soon” be launching a massive operation against human smuggling and drug trafficking, as these criminal activities have become “out of control.”
Maricopa County Sheriff’s SWAT deputies had arrested 13 unauthorized immigrants late Tuesday, after confronting human smugglers at an Avondale home. Deputies utilized tear gas to force the occupants from the property.
“Yesterday’s arrests shows that the problem of smuggling drugs and illegal aliens seems out of control and is continuing within Maricopa County. I will soon be conducting a massive operation directed at the invasion of drugs and illegal aliens in the valley to include Phoenix very soon,” said Arpaio.
The sheriff admitted the use of tear gas, which angered immigrants’ rights advocates in Los Angeles.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible Sheriff Arpaio’s use of tear gas during a police raid yesterday allegedly conducted to free thirteen smuggled immigrants. The use of this chemical compound was excessive, morally reprehensible, and a flagrant disregard of acceptable law enforcement procedures during a non-violent, non-criminal operative,”said Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
“Sheriff Arpaio continues to demonstrate his lack of understanding of basic human values when it comes to his obsession with arresting and deporting unauthorized immigrants. Whereas he has used various other questionable methods to humiliate and debase immigrants, his use of tear gas rises to the level of cruel and unusual use of force,” Salas added.
Also this week, Arpaio said he was invited to visit a classroom to read to sixth-graders at a Phoenix school, and then he was ‘uninvited’ for what he believes are political reasons.
"I'm a little concerned because I'm being accused of being too controversial and too many of the kids' parents are Hispanic that you would cancel my talk," Arpaio said.
Washington Elementary School District authorities responded it was just a scheduling issue.
Always polemical, Sheriff Arpaio’s track-record includes dozens of lawsuits, has been accused of abuse of power, cruelty and his jails are called “cockroach infested hellholes.” He is also accused of profiling Latinos.
However, Arapio insistently sustains he’s just doing his job and taking on the responsibilities the federal government has failed to assume.
During the first two months of the year, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputies have made more than 230 arrests linked to drug trafficking and human smuggling.
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