America's Toughest Sheriff Cracks Down on Illegal Street Criminals

By Tom Fitton
FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, February 01, 2008

Judicial Watch has been working together with Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff Joe Arpaio to impose a law and order solution to the illegal immigration problem in Phoenix, Arizona. Last summer, Judicial Watch lodged a complaint with Sheriff Arpaio on behalf of small businesses, organized as the 36th and Thomas Business Coalition, who were victimized by illegal aliens regularly trespassing on their property. (Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon had abandoned the needs of Phoenix businesses, allowing the illegal immigration problem to spiral out of control.) Sheriff Arpaio, also known as "America's Toughest Sheriff," responded, leading to the arrest of six illegal aliens.

Now, with the help of Judicial Watch, small businesses in Phoenix called upon Sheriff Arpaio in a letter dated January 25, 2008, to tackle the problem of illegal immigration street crime.

When illegal aliens cross the border into the United States, they bring with them all manner of social problems, including trespassing, solicitation, loitering, drug dealing, sexual harassment, public urination and defecation. Unfortunately, the Phoenix Police Department routinely ignores the street crime problem, responding very selectively to only the most egregious crimes that simply cannot be ignored due to violence or loss of property. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Arpaio, is the only law enforcement agency enforcing both federal and state immigration laws in Arizona.