Protesters of Arizona's immigration law held signs and chanted as they marched to the Maricopa County jail in downtown Phoenix on Saturday.
Salvador Rez, an organizer of the immigrant rights rally, said a group of 300 to 400 people rallied outside the Fourth Avenue jail run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Chris Hegstrom of the sheriff's office estimated that number was closer to 100 to 150.
The jail was picked as a rally location because organizers allege that Latinos have been racially profiled in the sheriff's immigration patrols. Arpaio has vigorously denied the profiling allegations.
The protest comes during the same week that a federal judge gave police the go-ahead to start enforcing the law's most contentious section. The provision in question requires police, while enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally.
Rez said that among the protesters were some of the first arrestees under the new law. He said they were released by federal immigration officials because they had no criminal history and were not considered a priority.
The rally outside the jail lasted less than an hour. Hegstrom said it did not disrupt operations at the jail.
Hegstrom added that the sheriff was aware that similar protests have occurred over the years, but that "it doesn't change the way we do business."
"Sheriff Joe Arpaio says we will continue to enforce the immigration law," Hegstrom said.
Rez said that the group had since returned to a nearby restaurant where they started the march and intended to continue demonstrating there for several more hours.
Jesus Christo de Nogales posted at 9:30 am on Sun, Sep 23, 2012.
Arizona taxpayers pay for 53% of births in the state
Arizona taxpayers foot the bill for the delivery of more than half of all babies born here, a growing trend with a $200 million-plus annual price tag that has caught state leaders off guard. Please tell me that Illegal Mexican Occupiers aren’t part of this problem.
Bodacious posted at 9:30 am on Sun, Sep 23, 2012.
They are not "immigrant rights advocates". They are "illegal alien rights advocates" and the only "right" they have is the right to be deported when caught to be in this country illegally.
Unfortunatley for American citizens Obama and Napolitano have decided to be derelict in their sworn duty to uphold the law and have instructed ICE to not perform their duties to deport illegal aliens.[sad]
samkat posted at 1:59 pm on Sun, Sep 23, 2012.
I understand one of the nimrods was waving a Mexican flag. That demonstrates their loyalty to our country.
Kathleen posted at 3:58 pm on Mon, Sep 24, 2012.
I often wonder what it will take for these radical Latino groups to finally understand Americans, including those of Latino descent legally residing here, will never, ever allow those who profit from the presence of illegal aliens to turn our country into a clone of the lawless, violent, and corrupt third world countries the illegal aliens left behind before invading ours.