I just received the witness list for Thursday's 287(g) hearing from New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler's office. At this point, it's highly unlikely that the Republicans will try to call Sheriff Joe Arpaio because the Dems are running the show, and Arpaio would be walking into a hostile environment.
As previously reported. Mesa Police Chief George Gascon is on the list, as is Julio Mora, who was harassed by MCSO deputies during the HMI raid in February. He was dropping off his father for work as the MCSO was storming the Phoenix landscaping company. Mora is an American citizen, raised in Arizona.
Congress Nadler's office informed me that these are the only two witnesses who will address Arpaio. Others will be discussing the 287(g) program and federal immigration laws in general.Arpaio's critics' dreams of seeing Maricopa County's top constable being grilled before the cameras is unlikely. Still, Gascon should be cool to watch, and I'm looking forward to hearing Mora's testimony.
Joint Hearing on the Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws
Judiciary Subcommittees to Investigate Public Safety and Civil Rights Implications of State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, and the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will hold a joint hearing on Public Safety and Civil Rights Implications of State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws. The hearing will be co-chaired by Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Jerrold Nadler and will focus on wide-ranging allegations of racial profiling in connection with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program. The hearing will also examine allegations of unconstitutional policing and immigration enforcement tactics by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, Arizona.
The Subcommittees will hear from U.S. citizens who were interrogated, arrested or detained by state or local law enforcement authorities who were attempting to enforce federal civil immigration laws. The Subcommittees will also hear from experts who will discuss how state and local law enforcement of immigration laws can result in racial profiling and harm the relationship between police and immigrant communities.
This hearing will take place on Thursday, April 2nd, at 10:00am in the Rayburn Building, Room 2141, Washington, D.C.
Witness List Panel I
Julio Cesar Mora Avondale, Arizona
Antonio Ramirez Frederick, Maryland Community Advocate
Deborah Weissman Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Programs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law
Ray Tranchant Operations Director, Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia Adjunct Professor at Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Panel II
David Harris Professor of Law University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Hubert Williams President Police Foundation
George Gascon Chief, Mesa Police department Mesa, Arizona
Kris Kobach Professor of Law University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law
