day laborers confront Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Date: Friday, March 28, 2008 3:27 AM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1844 -- 3/28/2008 >>>>>

This newsletter rarely covers the topic of day laborers since the focus is
usually on how global labor arbitrage affects white collar professionals.
The breaking story below is compelling enough to make an exception.

Go to the first link, and be sure to watch both videos. The one titled
"Protesters outraged over Sheriff Joe Arpaio's posse patrol" shows some video
from the TV12 helicopter, and "Sheriff's immigration operation moves north"
shows on-the-spot coverage from last night.

The conflict over day laborers in Arizona has been going on for a long time. A
second article is included that gives some context for the current unrest.

Note: The story takes place in the town of Cave Creek, which is in the
northern Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.

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http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/arpaioprotest032708-CR.html

Sheriff's immigration operation moves north Kevin Curran
12 News
Mar. 27, 2008 09:58 PM

Protesters outraged over Sheriff Joe Arpaio's posse patrol

It was a tense evening Thursday night in north Phoenix as Sheriff Arpaio
continued his intensive patrol operation aimed at locating illegal immigrants.

The sheriff said 200 deputies and armed posse volunteers fanned out in a new
area for the program. They established a command post near Cave Creek and Bell
Roads. Sheriff Arpaio claims he is responding to requests business owners in
the area. They told the sheriff the proximity of two day labor centers is a
concern.

Supporting the sheriff and deputies were members of patriotic motorcycle
clubs. Arpaio expected immigrant rights groups to protest his operation and
said his troops were prepared for any potential trouble between advocacy
groups. "My hope is that cool heads will prevail," Arpaio said in a statement
before the operation started. "There will be a zero tolerance policy in this
operation toward any amount of violence or disruption of the peace."

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon says he is disappointed the sheriff will not
coordinate his operations with the chief and other professionals at the
Phoenix police. "The sheriff is endangering the lives of police and federal
undercover officers who may be tracking drug dealers and murderers."

As for the sheriff s massive show of force, "if he s got 200 deputies and
posse members to track down people with cracked headlights, he should be going
after his long list of people with warrants."

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http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0325day-labor0325-ON.html

Cave Creek sued over law targeting day laborers Associated Press Mar. 25, 2008
02:10 PM

Three day laborers filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to overturn a suburb's
law prohibiting people standing on public streets from soliciting employment
from occupants of cars.

The federal lawsuit alleges Cave Creek's law passed is unconstitutional
because it restricts the free speech rights of people trying to find work as
day laborers.

"Cave Creek does not have the right to pick and choose who has free speech
rights," said Monica Ramirez, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties
Union, one of the group's representing the day laborers. "The town cannot bar
people from peaceably standing in public areas and expressing their
availability to work."

Mayor Vincent Francia said the law was a response to concerns raised by
residents over traffic being impeded by people congregating on street corners.

"The ordinance applies to everyone. It is not specific to any group,"
Francia said. "I have to obey it."

The environment for day laborers in Arizona has grown tougher in recent years.

Advocates for and against day labor have regularly held competing protests.

Nearly three years ago, the Legislature and governor approved a law barring
local governments from putting taxpayer money into day labor centers that help
illegal immigrants find work.

The Legislature approved a proposal last year that would have made it a
trespassing offense for day laborers to seek work on public streets and
sidewalks. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed the bill, saying she recognizes the
need to confront illegal hirings, but that the proposal was discriminatory.

The Cave Creek Town Council passed its work solicitation law in September.
Days later, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office provides police
protection for Cave Creek, had officers respond to complaints that illegal
immigrants were creating public safety problems near a day labor center.

Arpaio's office is noted for its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

The Guatemalan and two Mexicans who filed the lawsuit are in the United States
legally and, as day laborers, have earned money as painters, gardeners and
construction workers, Ramirez said.

Free speech rights apply to everyone, regardless of their immigration status,
Ramirez said.

Ramirez said the law has made it harder for her three clients to find work and
rejected suggestions that they might go elsewhere to earn money.

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