The Governor of Arizona has shut off the funding which has allowed Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to have his own ‘immigration sweeps.’Governor Janet Napolitano has issued an executive order developing a new task force with the funds. It will be headed up by the state Department of Public Safety, and will be challenged to find and arrest tens of thousands of felons with outstanding warrants.
A week ago, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to renew an agreement between the Department of Public Services and Arpaio’s office that would have provided the sheriff with $1 million in special funds for fiscal year 2009, which starts in July.
Arpaio had used the funds to pay the salaries and overtime expenses of deputies involved in immigration enforcement. The funds also were used to lease numerous vehicles and to purchase radios and other equipment.
Over time, Napolitano has been criticized for failing to take a stance on Arpaio's immigration sweeps. Now she has, hitting the sheriff where it hurts - in the pocketbook. Despite the loss of funding, the sheriff has vowed to continue the sweeps.
Polls show that most county residents heartily approve of Arpaio's methods.
I think this pretty well sucks. How are they suppose to enforce the law when the goverment yanks the rug out from under them?
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