Hispanic activists ask sheriff to stop arresting illegal immigrants

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5151854&nav=HMO6HMaY

Hundreds of illegal-immigrant-rights activists sparred with the infamous sheriff of Arizona's most populous county Friday, calling him heartless for arresting illegal immigrants under a state smuggling law.

More than 200 protesters marched through a small area of downtown Phoenix and stopped in front of the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Arpaio was waiting for them.

"Sheriff, we are here to get on our knees and implore you to stop the hostility against the Hispanic community," said Elias Bermudez, president of activist group Inmigrantes Sin Fronteras, or Immigrants Without Borders.

Bermudez kneeled in front of the sheriff as he spoke, saying, "We believe that your enforcement of the law is an affront to the poor victims, the people who are coming here to work and serve this country."

Arpaio refused to stop arresting illegal immigrants under the smuggling law, whose authors say the intent of the law is to crack down on violent immigrant smugglers.

"I am going to enforce the law," Arpaio said. "You cannot change my mind."

Copyright 2006 KVOA.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.