Arizona sheriff says he won’t enforce new immigration law
PHOENIX -- An Arizona sheriff is the latest person to speak out about the state's new immigration legislation, saying he does not plan to enforce the divisive law.
Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik calls Senate Bill 1070 a "stupid law" that will force officers to start profiling. He is one of the first local law enforcement officials to rebel against the law.
"We don't need to enforce it. It would be irresponsible in my opinion to put people in the Pima County Jail at the taxpayers expense when i can give them to the Border Patrol," Dupnik said.
The Sheriff admits he could get sued for failing to obey the law, but says that's a risk he's willing to take.
The controversial bill was signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer last Friday.
Since last week, local and national figures have spoken out about SB 1070, which requires police to question people about their immigration status -- including asking for identification -- if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.
The law also toughens restrictions on hiring illegal immigrants for day labor and knowingly transporting them.
ABC15 has learned that pop star Shakira is plannning a visit to the Valley this week to speak with officials about the legislation.
According to City of Phoenix spokeswoman Debra Stark, the singer could be in Phoenix Thursday, but the time and location for her appearance has not yet been set.
"She is town to talk the Mayor about the harmful effects of this bill," Stark said.
The singer will reportedly meet with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and could also meet families who might be affected by the law.
Former city council candidate Jon Garrido has announced he has started the process to gather nearly 77,000 signatures to repeal SB 1070 for a referendum on the November ballot.
Garrido says he has an "army" behind him, ready to gather signatures over the next two weeks of those opposing the tough immigration enforcement law.
The move, which could let Arizonans decide whether the new law should stand, is only the beginning of the challenges Governor Jan Brewer expected when she signed the bill.
"I've been notified by several different groups that they will challenge the constitutionality of it, and that's why we have three areas of government," Brewer said.
Mayor Phil Gordon had planned to take the issue to the City Council on Tuesday, putting an item on the agenda authorizing the city attorney to prepare a lawsuit.
But Gordon had to drop the item from the meeting when he could not secure the five votes needed to pass approval for the lawsuit.
Councilman Claude Mattox said he is one of those against a lawsuit right now.
"Having the city file suit against it, we're just going to be spending more money at this time that I don't believe we need to spend," Mattox told ABC15. "As I said, there are going to be a lot of groups filing law suits today."
Gordon said he would continue to pursue the lawsuit, but with private donations so it will not cost the city any money. He said he understands the frustration against the federal government, but said the immigration bill is not the answer and will violate civil rights.
"This country and this state was founded on the principle that the minority on any agreement would be protected and respected," he said. "Those that started this country were being persecuted in other countries, came here as a minority."
Meanwhile reactions from around the nation are growing as Arizona takes center stage in the immigration debate.
Activists have called on President Barack Obama to fight the law targeting undocumented immigrants, promising Sunday to march in the streets and invite arrest by refusing to comply if the measure goes into effect.
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona told about 3,500 protesters gathered at the state Capitol that the Obama administration can help defeat the law by refusing to cooperate.
"We're asking that his federal agencies, particularly Homeland Security, not cooperate with the implementation of this law. That's defeating this. That's the strategy," Grijalva said.
"We hope that the federal government will start working on immigration reform," Rachael Pollack said as she carried a banner Sunday afternoon. "We need it."
Civil rights advocates have vowed to challenge the law in court, saying it would undoubtedly lead to racial profiling.
"I expect it to be overturned. You look at it, it's unconstitutional," Lelani Clark said. She was arrested this week for refusing to leave a protest at the Capitol.
National figures are also chiming in on the controversy. Rev. Al Sharpton said that just as freedom riders battled segregation in the 1960s, he would organize "freedom walkers" to challenge the Arizona bill.
"We will go to Arizona when this bill goes into effect and walk the streets with people who refuse to give identification and force arrest," Sharpton said Sunday in New York.
Supporters have dismissed concerns of racial profiling, saying the law prohibits the use of race or nationality as the sole basis for an immigration check.
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