Hispanic groups counter sheriff's entrant hot line 
Associated Press
August 10, 2007

 

PHOENIX — In response to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's hot line that encourages people to report information on undocumented immigrants, Latino organizations have created a network of hot lines for incidents of racial profiling.

Leaders of the Hispanic community said Wednesday their hot lines will ensure the preservation of civil and constitutional rights and again called for Arpaio's hot line to be taken down.

"We need Sheriff Joe Arpaio to do his job in enforcing the laws without using race as the sole purpose of trying to determine if someone is here illegally," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat.

The four hot-line numbers staffed by Hispanic advocacy groups will be activated Monday.

When a call is received through the hot lines, lawyers on a volunteer basis will review the claims to see whether they are valid. If they are deemed valid, the reports of racial profiling will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Arpaio said about 1,000 calls have been received through his hot line. Eight undocumented immigrants were arrested Wednesday morning during a traffic stop from information gathered from his hot line.

Arpaio said no call to his hot line would be acted on unless there were probable cause.