> http://www.lafronteratimes.com/ (For real time coverage) > > *For Immediate Release Contact: Héctor Yturralde* > > *February 4, 2009 * *Phone: 602-370-4729* > > *SOMOS AMERICA CONDEMNS ARPAIO'S LATEST STUNT AS FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF > HUMAN RIGHTS * > > *Calls for immediate end to 287g agreements* > > PHOENIX, AZ -- The broad coalition of immigrant and human rights advocacy > organizations known as Somos America /We Are America Arizona expressed > outrage today at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's planned "forced march" > of undocumented detainees before cameras. Calling it a flagrant violation > of internationally agreed upon human rights standards, the group is asking > President Barack Obama to step in and put an end to the 287g agreements that > allows the Sheriff's department to act as immigration enforcement agents. > > "These are human beings, not circus animals," said Somos America President > Héctor Yturralde. "One of President Obama's first actions was to call for > the closing of Guatanamo Bay in Cuba . We now call upon him to put an end > to all human rights abuses on American soil, and bar the degrading and > humiliating treatment of undocumented detainees at the hands of Sheriff > Arpaio. We are asking him to suspend all 287g agreements immediately." > 287g refers to a agreements between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and > local law enforcement departments allowing the local departments to arrest > people suspected of being in the country without proper documentation. > > "Decent Americans who see this will be holding their heads in shame," said > Lydia Guzman, Vice President of Somos America and Director of > Respect/Respeto. "This degrading and humiliating treatment of fellow human > beings is a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights > which states that 'No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, *inhuman > or* *degrading treatment* or punishment.' This Sheriff must be stopped, > and the best tool we have is to revoke his 287g agreement now." > > The group will stand along the Gibson Street at 1:00pm today with heads > bowed in silent protest. *For real-time photos, videos and accounts, go > to **LaFronteraTimes.com <http://www.lafronteratimes.com/>* > > > > >
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