TUCSON, Arizona – Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Barack Obama for his executive order providing protection against deportation for close to 5 million undocumented immigrants.“We have to understand whether this is constitutional or not, whether his going around Congress is legal,” Arpaio told local media Thursday night after Obama’s announcement.
The Maricopa County sheriff, whose jurisdiction includes Phoenix, is known for raiding local businesses to find and arrest undocumented workers.
“This is going to open the door. Everybody in Mexico, Central America, thinks they will have a free pass when they come into our country because of what the president is issuing,” Arpaio said.
But activists gave little importance Friday to the sheriff’s announcement and said Arpaio was just looking for attention.
“Arpaio will say and do anything to attract attention – he’s one of those public figures who depend on that. Since we began fighting for this we have been sure it’s legal. The president has all the authority to do it, so Arpaio can do what he likes,” activist Erika Andiola told Efe Friday.
Other activists downplayed Arpaio’s lawsuit but believe Republican leaders won’t stop slamming the executive order.
“Some Republic presidents have taken action on immigration by means of executive orders, and we know that this president has the legal authority for the action he is taking,” said Eduardo Sainz of the Mi Familia Vota group.
Arpaio, who still has a lawsuit pending against him for allegedly ordering operations against Hispanics based on racial profiling, said that his lawsuit against Obama will not be paid for with his constituents’ money.
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