Donate Now: Aid to Latino Families of Baltimore Bridge Tragedy Donate Here
* 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the families impacted by the devastating Baltimore bridge collapse.

LULAC Hails the Justice Department’s Findings of Discrimination by Arizona Sheriff’s Office of Maricopa County

December 15, 2011

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, (202) 812-4477

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, issued a report today finding that the Maricopa County sheriff’s office engaged in the unlawful practice of unconstitutional policing; racial profiling of Latinos; unlawful stops, detains, arrests; and unlawfully retaliated against individuals who criticized the policies enforced by Sheriff Arpaio’s office. The Justice Department found the Sheriff’s Office to be in violation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. §14141 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-7 and its implementing regulations at 28 C.F.R. §42.101 et seq.

“At issue is not whether the sheriff’s office engaged in unlawful practices, the finding’s in the Justice Department’s report are clear on that point,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. The issue is whether this culture of corruption can be eradicated through this investigation. What is needed is a system of trust between the sheriff’s office and the Latino community. After years of false arrests, unlawful use of force and a disregard for the well-being of the Latino community which included allowing sex crimes to go uninvestigated; one could certainly appreciate the community’s skepticism that this investigation can eradicate this type of behavior. We do however appreciate that the investigation is one significant step for that laudable goal.”

Recipients of federal financial assistance derived from Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-7 cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The three yearlong investigation had found that Sheriff Arpaio was not in compliance with this statute and therefore puts at risk federal financial assistance going to the State of Arizona, as well as, putting Sheriff Arpaio at risk for federal prosecution pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §14141.

About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through 900 LULAC councils nationwide.