Rep. Ruben Gallego Reacts to Former Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio’s Conviction

This week, a U.S. federal district court found former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio guilty of criminal contempt for willful violation of a federal judge’s order to discontinue improper questioning and detention of individuals he suspected to be of undocumented status.

Following the ruling, Rep. Ruben Gallego commented,“With the District Court’s decision, Joe Arpaio’s controversial immigration policies have been exposed for what they are: a racially-motivated breach of justice. Joe Arpaio trampled on civil rights in service of a discriminatory anti-immigrant agenda. He encouraged deputies to sweep communities and improperly interrogate good, hardworking people who contribute to our communities – even after a federal court ordered him to halt these unlawful practices.”

Rep. Gallego continued, “It was alarming to say the least that Donald Trump campaigned with Joe Arpaio. Now under President Trump’s leadership, we are witnessing nothing less than the nationalization of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s extreme approach to immigration enforcement. I will do everything I can to fight this.”