Maricopa County Sheriff: Political Shockwaves

Desert State Dept: A 63-year-old father of five and former lawman who worked for the local Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for 23 years, Pearce is clearly reveling in the political shockwaves he has created. He says he is also pleased to have called attention to what he and many other Americans consider misguidedly lenient policies toward illegal immigrants, according to Globe And Mail. The state’s controversial law goes into effect Thursday, barring successful legal challenges. It will make it a crime to be in the country without proper documents. Local backers say the legislation’s intent is to curb the smuggling of both humans and drugs over the state’s porous border with Mexico. “Nobody could have guessed the impact it would have,” Mr. Pearce said of the divisive law he crafted to crack down on illegal immigrants in his state – of which there are nearly half a million. “Who could have guessed that I would have pissed off the president of the United States?” As a result, Arizona – the desert state that provided presidential candidates in Barry Goldwater and John McCain – has become a crucible for policy on immigration, an issue that crystallizes popular anger ahead of the midterm congressional vote in November. As reported in the news.
@t globe and mail, barry goldwater