Phx PD ties officers’ hands in arrests of illegal aliens

Judicial Watch’s Corruption Chronicles exposes the quietly implemented new Phoenix Police Department policy banning officers from contacting federal agents after arresting an illegal alien and forbidding them from asking about immigration status, in violation of key provisions of a state law upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judicial Watch obtained a copy of the Phoenix Police Department’s new sanctuary Immigration Procedures, which also replace the term “illegal alien” with “a person unlawfully present.” It appears to be part of a broader scheme to dodge federal immigration laws in Arizona’s most populous county.

Earlier this year Judicial Watch reported that Paul Penzone, the newly elected Maricopa County sheriff, was releasing an average of 400 criminal illegals every 10 days. Many of them were violent offenders, but Penzone released them from Maricopa County Jail facilities, to protect them from deportation. The illegal aliens had state criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, driving under the influence and drug offenses. “There’s no telling how many criminals he’s (Sheriff Penzone) putting on the streets,” stated a high-ranking federal law enforcement official stationed in Arizona.

Under a longtime partnership between the county and the feds, the Phoenix field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified when “aliens unlawfully present with additional Arizona charges” were released from the Maricopa County Jail, which is one of the nation’s largest with a population of about 8,000. That ended when Penzone, who refers to illegal immigrants as “guests,” took office this year.

The Phoenix Police Department has about 3,000 officers that were permitted to use “sound judgment” at any time under the agency’s former immigration enforcement policy. That allowed front-line officers to directly contact federal immigration officials involving criminal illegal immigrants. The revised policy, issued just weeks ago, mandates all contact with federal immigration partners to be funneled through a single Violent Crimes Bureau (VCB) desk sergeant who will document all immigration related data and give authority to call ICE.

Read the entire Judicial Watch exposé by clicking this link.

Although Arizona is a red state, with Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, a Republican Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Education Superintendent with five of the nine congressional district seats and the majority of Maricopa County offices held by Republicans, the city of Phoenix is another matter. The Phoenix City Council is now a Democrat majority and Democrat mayors have held the reins of the city far too long, aided by unions and the scheme of moving the already traditionally low turnout city elections to the summer when many concerned voters are vacationing.

Additionally, there was a new dynamic during the 2016 election cycle. Socialist billionaire George Soros, a funder of Hillary Clinton and John McCain, also set his sights on nation-wide law enforcement and prosecutorial races, which is how Penzone reached campaign spending heights. A 2016 Primary Election day snafu that forced voters to stand in lines for hours resulted in the longtime Republican County Recorder losing the post, and the election of leftwing Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, who now oversees elections. Fontes intends to replace polling places with all mail-in ballots and claims voter ID requirements constitute minority voter suppression.

Seeing Red AZ has previously written about liberal Democrat Sheriff Paul Penzone.

Oct. 24, 2016: Why is open borders fan Soros backing Paul Penzone & Diego Rodriguez?

Feb.18, 2017:  Sheriff Penzone puts ICE detainer for illegals on ice

Oct. 1, 2016:  Paul Penzone: Facts get in his way as he challenges Sheriff Arpaio

US House passes criminal aliens bills — will Senate act?

Kate’s Law is named to memorialize Kathryn Steinle, 32, who was shot and killed in 2015 by an illegal alien brandishing a stolen firearm as she strolled the San Francisco pier with her father. The shooter, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, a Mexican national, was a repeat felon who had been deported five times.

This past week, the U.S. House passed two bills to address the laxity that allowed this tragedy, and other such crimes, to occur.

The bills —  Kate’s Law (HR 3004) and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003) —  increase penalties for illegals who reenter the United States after being deported for criminal acts. Sanctuary cities or states that provide protections to illegals would be ineligible for certain federal funds. Arizona U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-CD 5) co-authored HR 3003, which included his bill Grant’s Law.

It was a victory that Kate’s Law passed. That it passed with these skewed, largely party line numbers — 257-167 — stands as a stark reminder that liberals appear content with the status quo.

Rep. Biggs’ excellent commentary — “Dealing with illegals who deal in crime,” appeared in the Thursday edition of the Washington Times, describing the pressing need for the legislation. Biggs provides background that takes the victims from momentary names in the news to real people whose lives were brutally taken by criminal aliens.

In 2015, Seeing Red AZ detailed the callus murder of Grant Ronnebeck, a 21-year-old Mesa convenience store clerk whose young life was cut short by the previously convicted felon who had been given a sweetheart deal, releasing him from federal custody prior to deportation.

The future of these much needed bills remains uncertain when they get to the U.S. Senate.

Call the offices Arizona Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain  (Contact information under links)  and urge them to act admirably and vote for passage of these bills. They are both committed amnesty proponents, so their natural inclination would be to protect illegals.

AZ Republic buffs candidate Jeff Flake to hero status in ballpark shooting

Like most Americans you probably credit the Capitol Police security detail assigned to provide protection to GOP Whip Steve Scalise for the rapid response in the wake of the assassination attempt on the lives of Republican congressmen. They were staked out by a radical left-wing hater as they practiced for an annual bipartisan charity baseball game. The shooter inquired to determine the player’s party affiliation prior to opening fire early Wednesday. He was a Bernie Sanders’ Socialist.

But if you read the newspaper account of the horrific event, you’d think Sen. Jeff Flake, up for reelection in 2018, was the hero of the day. 

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise remains in critical condition following multiple surgeries. Five others were wounded. The shooter, who traveled from Illinois to surveil the congressmen had been living in his van since March. He was shot by police and later died of his injuries.

“Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone,” Scalise’s office said in this statement. “He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues.”

Jeff Flake took Scalise’s phone and called the wife of the seriously wounded congressman, so she wouldn’t hear the news from media sources.

Rep. Mo Brooks who was at the practice, told CNN (transcript) that the gunman was holding what he described as a semi-automatic rifle in the area behind third base and that Scalise had been near second base. Brooks said he tried to help Scalise, saying, “We used my belt to help put a tourniquet around his leg.”

Brooks said, “Brad Wenstrup of Ohio was someplace; I don’t know where but I know he was there because after the shooter was down and we ran out to see Steve Scalise at second base, Brad Wenstrup is a physician and we deferred to his judgment on what to do. As I said, I held a cloth over the wound to stop the bleeding as Brad was getting some kind of scissors device to cut through the pants to try to have better access to Steve Scalise’s wound in his hip.”

Senator Rand Paul, another physician, was also on the scene.

 Jeff Flake received a call  from former Pres. Barack Obama, with whom he has forged a deep friendship, asking about the attempted massacre of Republicans. With a revealing lack of basic manners, Obama asked Flake to relay his good wishes to Scalise‘s wife. He must have been running late for tee time.

Although the FBI has confirmed that Arizona Republican Congressman Trent Franks (CD 8) was on the shooter’s hit list, this was the Arizona Republic’s “all about Flake” front page the day following the shooting: 

 

 

US Rep. Steve Scalise shot at congressional baseball practice & UpDate

Gunman intended to shoot Republican Congressmen

A would-be assassin opened fire on Republican members of the U.S. Congress during a baseball practice near Washington. DC this morning, wounding several people including  U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, House of Representatives Majority Whip,—  the third-highest ranking member of the House Republican leadership.

Rep. Mel Brooks, who represents Alabama, estimated 50 to 100 shots were fired in the spree that lasted about 10 minutes. Those at the practice were “sitting ducks,” with no place to hide in the open field.

Scalise, 51, represents Louisiana. He was shot in the hip and is undergoing surgery. Five people were transported to local hospitals. Two of the wounded were Capitol Hill police who responded to the scene. Also shot was Zack Barth, a congressional aide to Roger Williams. Williams was injured trying to escape by jumping into the dugout

The attempted assassin, who was shot by Capitol Police, was identified as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson, of Illinois has died of his injuries. As he entered the Alexandria, Virginia ballpark, he specifically asked if the players were Republicans, since the site was known as a congressional practice field.

“Without the Capitol Hill police it would have been a massacre,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)  said, describing the scene as “sort of a killing field.”

SRAZ’s post yesterday titled, Celebration of assassination betrays leftist hypocrisy, deals with an acclaimed New York theatrical production of Julius Caesar, featuring the stabbing assassination of a President Trump look-alike Caesar. 

Recently comedian Kathy Griffin thought it was appropriate to do a routine including a mock,  bloody severed head representing President Trump. When she met with derision she whined at a press conference — accompanied by her lawyer — that she felt her career was over and that Trump “broke” her.

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake never let an opportunity pass to disparage President Donald Trump. Civil discourse has taken a back seat to reviling the president. They are just as guilty of stirring up hatred as Kathy Griffin.

It all has to stop. This shooting stands as stark evidence.

This update on the condition of Rep. Steve Scalise is from MedStar Washington Hospital Center:

June 14, 2017, 8:15 pm

“”Congressman Steve Scalise sustained a single rifle shot to the left hip. The bullet travelled across his pelvis, fracturing bones, injuring internal organs, and causing severe bleeding. He was transported in shock to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a Level I Trauma Center.  He underwent immediate surgery, and an additional procedure to stop bleeding.  He has received multiple units of blood transfusion. His condition is critical, and he will require additional operations.  We will provide periodic updates.

In other news, Breitbart News reports President and First Lady Melania Trump went to the hospital where he sat at Steve Scalise’s bedside and they spoke with members of his family.

Twitter erupts with concerns about John McCain’s health

Inability to rationally communicate raise questions he’s had a TIA or mini-stroke 

John McCain, no friend of President Donald Trump, is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee (how could he be?) but he wrangled a spot to grill fired FBI Director James Comey — trying his damnedest to get Comey to implicate President Trump in the “Russian probe.”

McCain failed miserably.  Comey, however, did make himself look incompetent at best and a scoundrel at worst, as he admitted giving copies of his meeting notes to Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor/friend with explicit instructions to get them high visibility coverage.

As to the envious McCain who can’t imagine political novice Donald Trump captured the job McCain has spent his lifetime dreaming of — sitting in the Oval Office — he continues to undermine President Trump at every turn.

Twice as he questioned Comey, John McCain referred to President Trump as “Mr. Comey.” No wonder James Comey told McCain he was “confused” by his line of questions. (video under link.)

Follow this. Emma Loop is a reporter covering Capitol Hill for Buzzfeed.

Homeland Security chief: “Terror threat worse than most realize”

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Friday that the terror threat is worse than most realize, saying some people would “never leave the house” if they knew the truth.

“I was telling [Fox host] Steve [Doocy] on the way in here, if he knew what I knew about terrorism, he’d never leave the house in the morning,” Kelly said on “Fox & Friends.”

He noted there were four major terror attacks in the last week — in England, Egypt, the Philippines and Indonesia — “by generally the same groups.”

Read the sobering report here.

And today, the Times of London is reporting that Intelligence officers have identified 23,000 jihadist extremists living in Britain as potential terrorist attackers.

The scale of the challenge facing the police and security services was disclosed by Whitehall sources after criticism that multiple opportunities to stop the Manchester bomber had been missed.

Political correctness will be the end of the civilized world as the “Religion of Peace” tightens its grip.

Joe Arpaio and the facts get skewed in NYT report

Count on the New York Times to write a n inaccurate article on former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The intent of reporter Fernanda Santos was clearly to skewer the career lawman who was repeatedly elected by Maricopa County voters to an unprecedented six-four years terms.

If Fernanda was named Colleen McClanahan, would she have been given this assignment in which she conspicuously interviewed only Hispanics who were erroneously led to believe that Arpaio was targeting them without cause. His workplace raids exposed illegal alien profiteers — business owners and their agents — who hired illegal foreign nationals at substandard wages. Those in the U.S. illegally were rightly booked.

In what clearly appeared to be a personal vendetta carried out by a federal judge timed to coincide with the General Election in which the popular Arpaio was on the ballot running for a seventh term, he was charged with criminal contempt of court for ignoring U.S. District Judge Murray Snow’s order in a three-year old “racial-profiling” case. Arpaio acknowledged violating Snow’s order but insisted the breach was unintentional.

Arpaio was made to sound pathetic, when he is anything but. At age 84, he is quick-witted and robust, with an excellent memory and thoughtful demeanor. Reporter Santos portrays Arpaio as virtually friendless, left to look back wistfully over his expansive career. That, too, is delusional on her part. He still rates standing ovations and has maintained an unwavering base of loyalists.

The article briefly focuses on Arpaio’s successor, Sheriff Paul Penzone, but neglects to mention that Socialist billionaire George Soros, who is contemptuous of national borders, funded his campaign as part of a massive effort to reconfigure the U.S. Justice System. Penzone, who  refers to illegal aliens as  “guests” meets Soros’ criteria. Also missing from the report is the fact that Penzone had roughed up his former wife while a sergeant on the Phoenix Police force and was placed on administrative leave.

Santos scores another deception as she writes, “Fiscal conservatives deserted Arpaio, weary of the rising costs of his legal bills.“ Missing is any reference that Paul Penzone is angling for a $10 million budget hike for the upcoming fiscal year, which she obviously considers unworthy of mention.  Apparently the sidelong glancing Santos is only able to focus her negativity on Arpaio, which she then pumps up with flaccid “facts.”

Arpaio’s renown Tent City has been dismantled by Penzone, who has negatively referred to the cost saving effort as a “circus.”  The tents are military surplus, the same tents our service personnel bunk in. Here in Phoenix they are air-cooled.  In the Middle East desert, there is no such accommodation for our troops.

Included in the interview is a 31-year-old state legislator, identified as “a son of Mexican immigrants” (legal? illegal?) who represents the West Phoenix district where he grew up. He recalls seeing sheriff’s deputies “going down my street, raiding homes in my neighborhood.” This is a brazen lie. Such raids would only take place with a warrant issued in criminal cases, yet the bogus recollection is included as part of Fernanda Santos’ report. If his neighbors were drug dealers or murderers, he neglected to mention it.

The New York Times, it should be remembered, is the same newspaper that in 2008 — during John McCain’s failed presidential bid — wrote a piece on Arizona politics, highlighting then-congressman John Shadegg. He referred to his constituents who believe that a sovereign nation has a right to secure its borders, as “xenophobic and intolerant.”  Shadegg is no longer a congressman.  He’s now earning a lucrative salary as a DC lobbyist — and no longer insulting us.