Gordon blasts Arpaio over illegal alien sweeps in Phoenix, AZ...

Gordon blasts Arpaio over migrant sweeps


By Casey Newton and JJ Hensley
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), March 29, 2008

After weeks of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio criticizing Phoenix for not taking a harder stance against illegal immigrants, Mayor Phil Gordon struck back Friday, saying the sheriff's 'made-for-TV stunts' could endanger police and spur violence among protesters.

Speaking at a luncheon at the Phoenix Convention Center honoring civil-rights leader Cesar Chavez, Gordon blasted Arpaio's latest roundup of illegal immigrants in northeast Phoenix, saying that the sheriff acted in a way 'that deliberately sets the stage for shouting matches, confrontations or worse.'

'That's not acceptable behavior for anyone, let alone someone whose job is to help make our community safer,' Gordon said.

The speech was a rare instance of an Arizona official publicly criticizing the popular sheriff, who has a reputation for retaliating against his critics.

Arpaio fought back hours later by sending his forces back out to Phoenix streets and having a press conference his own, accusing Gordon of insulting the business people who Arpaio says called on him to conduct sweeps throughout Phoenix looking for illegal immigrants.

'Not only is he insulting the sheriff and my organization, he's insulting all these business people who signed it,' Arpaio said, referring to a petition asking him to intervene. 'He's just repeating what all his pro-immigrant friends are saying.'

The mayor's remarks highlighted actions by the sheriff that Gordon believes endanger Phoenix police investigations and encourage racial profiling. His speech seemed certain to escalate a conflict between City Hall and the Sheriff's Office over the proper role of the local authorities in enforcing immigration laws.

It also drew cheers from some Hispanics who accused the mayor of bowing to political pressure last year after he called on Phoenix police to play a more active role in enforcing immigration laws.

Gordon's impassioned 10-minute address came a day after a press release from Arpaio's office promoted the movement of his raids from 36th Street and Thomas Road to Cave Creek and Bell roads.

'While businesses there are receiving little help from the city of Phoenix, patriotic motorcycle groups such as the Freedom Riders, Riders USA and Riders Against Illegal Immigration came to their rescue and, at least for a time, helped reduce crime,' the release said.

Arpaio said he was asked for help from businesses that were frustrated about the lack of action from Phoenix police. In contrast, Gordon characterized the sheriff's raids as naked acts of racial profiling.

'Don't say you're going after murderers when you're not,' Gordon said. 'Don't call it crime suppression when it isn't. And don't pass the buck to 10 business owners.'

He suggested that Arpaio stop rounding up Hispanics who commit traffic violations and instead pursue 'dangerous criminals.'

'If he really wants to fight crime, he should start rounding up dangerous criminals who have outstanding felony warrants issued for them,' Gordon said. 'There are thousands of outstanding warrants in this county. How long are those going to stay piled up on his desk?'

More roundups planned

Arpaio said he has no plans to change his tactics.

'What should change?' he said. 'What (Gordon) wants us to do is stop coming to Phoenix and stop picking up illegals.'

The sheriff says more enforcement efforts are planned, though he refused to elaborate. Arpaio flatly denied the notion that any future crime-suppression efforts in Phoenix would be retaliation for Gordon's pointed remarks.

'The Phoenix police ought to come out here and clean up this neighborhood, and then we wouldn't have to come out here,' he said. 'All the politicians, they're using scare tactics not only to get me to stop but to get more protesters out here.'

Those protesters have hurt Randy Gerber's business.

Day laborers at a nearby gas station were bothering his potential customers, said Gerber, who manages a Purcell Western States Tire on the corner of Cave Creek and Bell roads.

'It wasn't really a crime thing; it was just annoying my customers,' he said. 'Our company is so focused on customer service that we can't sacrifice anything.'

In the past two days, Arpaio's roundups have netted at least 43 people. He said that at least 23are suspected to be in the country illegally.

'Our mayor is back'

The mayor's remarks had the potential to win back support from the city's Hispanic community, which waned after Gordon came out against the Phoenix Police Department's policy for handling illegal immigrants.

Gordon convened a panel to re-write the policy so that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is notified whenever someone suspected of a criminal act is believed to be in the country illegally. Some Hispanics worried the new policy would result in Phoenix police organizing raids similar to Arpaio's.

Gordon's speech drew a standing ovation from the more than 500 attendees.

'Our mayor is back,' Councilman Michael Nowakowski said afterward. 'That's what I was hearing in the audience within the Hispanic community -- that this is the Phil Gordon we know, that stands up for human rights.'

Paul Chavez, a son of Cesar Chavez, called Gordon 'my hero' after the speech. He likened Arpaio's campaign against illegal immigrant to the Red Scare of the 1950s.

'During the McCarthy era, there was a senator out there bullying people,' Chavez said, referring to Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. 'Then Edward R. Murrow stood up and said, 'Enough is enough.' That's what the mayor did today. He said what was right, not what was politically popular.'

The mayor called on Valley residents to take a stand against the roving crackdowns.

'I call upon everyone in this room -- especially the non-Hispanics in this room -- to speak out,' Gordon said. 'Make your voices heard.'



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