As a part of Rights Working Group's National Week of Action to Hold DHS Accountable, Call on Secretary Napolitano to immediately terminate Sheriff Arpaio's 287(g) contract.

In recent months, the hard work of many has raised the profile of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the most infamous Sheriff since Bull Connor, as the ugliest face of the failed national 287(g) program. The Sheriff's march of migrant inmates in a chain gang the New York Times described as"ritual humiliation" revealed the racial profiling and terror he's carried out on Maricopa County, and made urgent the need for federal intervention.

Arpaio deputizes vigilante posses to set up check points, dispatches uniformed officers to roam the streets in ski masks, chases janitors with attack dogs and assault weapons, and directs his law enforcement resources at the request of known white supremacists.

40,000 people recently signed petitions condemning his actions. 5,000 people marched peacefully in Phoenix on February 28 demanding federal intervention. And on April 2, the House Judiciary Committee held hearings on the racial profiling inherent in the 287(g) program.

Yet, Sheriff Arpaio continues to terrorize Maricopa County, taunting the federal government, and daring them to act. We say, "Enough is enough!" President Obama and his Secretary of Homeland Security, former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, need to sever Arpaio's 287(g) agreement now and restore safety and the rule of law to Maricopa County.

Send this letter to Secretary Napolitano calling for the termination of Sheriff Arpaio's 287(g) agreement.

Join the facebook group "Outraged at Arpaio" by clicking the link below to receive periodic updates on the campaign. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=65929682278&ref=ts

Take action during the National Week of Action to Hold DHS Accountable!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

We are asking you to immediately terminate the 287(g) memorandum of agreement between ICE and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Recently, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's alarming abuses brought to light the dangers of local police departments enforcing federal immigration laws. As the former Governor of Arizona, we are certain you are aware of Sheriff Arpaio's egregious abuses of the law and the subsequent 2,700 lawsuits filed against him.

When local authorities attempt to enforce complicated federal immigration laws, there is a great risk of civil rights violations that endanger the public trust. Residents who are victims or witnesses to crimes become hesitant to approach law enforcement and law enforcement becomes prone to policing based on skin color or Spanish accents as Phoenix Mayor Gordon states is happening in Maricopa County. Sheriff Arpaio is an example of the worst that is possible under the 287(g) agreements. His volunteer posses, sidewalks check points, and armed pursuits of janitors has turned Maricopa County into one of the worst sites of racial profiling and human rights violations in the country.

Last month the Congressional Homeland Security Committee reviewed the 287(g) program and on April 2 the House Judiciary Committee investigated the racial profiling inherent in its implementation.

As the Homeland Security Secretary, we ask that you end this dangerous program starting with Sheriff Arpaio in Maricopa County.

As you have noted, the United States immigration policy is broken. But as you must also know from your time in Phoenix, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's 287(g) agreement is not part of the solution. Our communities cannot endure more sweeping raids and humiliating chain gangs. We need you to use your power to terminate Sheriff Arpaio's 287(g) immediately and freeze expansion of this and similar programs until you can repeal them entirely. We are hopeful that under your leadership, the federal government will reassert its responsibility to enforce immigration laws in a fair and responsible manner.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 02, 2009