Yesterday an Arizona federal judge gave a victory to two Hispanics men recognizing that their rights were violated and also putting a dent in how infamous anti-immigration Sheriff Joe Arpaio does his job.
Last year Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio stopped Julian and Julio Mora’s pick up truck near the site of where he was conducting an work site immigration raid. Judge Campbell ruled that Arpaio and his men had no reasonable suspicion to stop them nor had they committed a crime – except that they were Hispanic and had brown colored skin. Arpaio determined after detaining the men for hours that they were in the U.S. legally.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona took up the case as did the Immigrants’ Rights Project not only to defend the rights of both Mora’s but in hopes that significant changes happen as to how Arpaio carries out his immigration enforcement.
Arpaio remains under investigation on charges he and his deputies racially profile Hispanics when conducting immigration investigations.
A later court proceeding will determine if Arpaio, Maricopa County or the state are liable for damages the Moras will receive.
