Perry defends ‘America’s toughest sheriff’ against discrimination charges

{mosads}According to the Justice Department, there is “reasonable cause” to believe there is a pattern of “violations of the Constitution and federal law” under the leadership of Arpaio. The alleged violations include policing and jail practices that discriminate against Latinos, particularly noting those with “limited English proficiency” and retaliation against critics of the department. The Justice Department in a press release blamed “systemic deficiencies.”

Perry said he didn’t know all the details of the investigation, but he considered it a political move. Arpaio has made similar statements in response to the investigation.

Arpaio endorsed Perry for the GOP presidential nomination late last month in, what seemed at the time, a helpful boost to Perry’s immigration stance. Arpaio, nicknamed “America’s toughest sheriff,” has served as the Maricopa County sheriff for 20 years. He is an influential though controversial lawman who is well-known for his tough stance on illegal immigration.

Perry criticized the Obama administration for suing sovereign states such as Arizona for making independent decisions, especially on immigration policy.  He slammed President Obama for declaring the southwestern border between Texas and Mexico as “among the safest in the nation” earlier this year.

The Supreme Court announced this week it will hear a challenge to Arizona’s controversial immigration law next spring. The Obama administration previously blocked the state’s legislation in part because it includes provisions enabling police officers to question a suspect’s immigration status.

Perry has said the president is responsible for securing the border and governors of border states such as Texas and Arizona must address the symptoms of a lax border-security problem.