CHC Chair: Don’t Condone Arpaio’s Shameful Record of Racism and Reckless Policing

Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement urging President Trump not to issue a pardon for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. This statement comes on the heels of reports that the President said that he was "seriously considering" issuing a pardon for Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt for ignoring a judge's order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected undocumented immigrants.

Arpaio's tenure as Maricopa Sheriff was mired in controversy related to alleged racism and abuse of power. In 2011, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a strong critique of his leadership and accused Arpaio in participating in "unconstitutional policing" and licensing "a pervasive culture of discriminatory bias against Latinos" that "reaches the highest levels of the agency." The DOJ report went on to say that his department was engaging in the "the most egregious racial profiling in the United States."

Arizona Congressmen Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) joined CHC Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham in calling against the pardoning of Arpaio:

CHC Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01): "Joe Arpaio was convicted of a serious crime and should face the full consequences of his actions. As the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I call on President Trump not to grant the disgraced former Maricopa County Sheriff a pardon.

"Especially in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville, this decision would send precisely the wrong message to the American people. It would signal that Trump's allies are above the law, affirm that anti-immigrant bigotry will be rewarded by the Trump administration, and make clear that the President condones Arpaio's shameful record of racism and reckless policing.

"Unfortunately, through the deportation of parents and breadwinners, it has already become clear that President Trump is seeking to nationalize Arpio's indiscriminant and unconstitutional approach to immigration enforcement. I remain committed to fighting to protect immigrant families and to comprehensively reforming our broken immigration system."

CHC Second Vice Chair Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07): "Joe Arpaio is a criminal who was found guilty in a court of law and must face the consequences for his crimes. His deputies continued to terrorize the Latino neighborhoods they were sworn to protect and defend even after a judge ordered them to stop. The only reason that President Trump is considering a pardon for Arpaio is to score political points with his most racist supporters."

Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-03): "It is a profound assault on our democracy for Donald Trump to grant, or even consider granting former Sheriff Arpaio a presidential pardon. For decades, communities across Maricopa county and Arizona were victimized by his racist practices. Arpaio held a total disregard for our judicial system and to this day fails to accept responsibility or even acknowledge his wrong-doings. All of that merits no presidential pardon. For Donald Trump to grant him leniency gives racist, hatred-filled, and extremist individuals and groups an unequivocal endorsement in continuing with their dangerous practices."

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