Statement on the Pardon of Joe Arpaio
8.27.17 — On Friday, President Donald Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, a sheriff who repeatedly profiled and detained latinos in Maricopa County, Arizona. Arpaio was convicted of violating an order which prohibited illegal detentions based on suspicion of immigration status. In a statement, the President said that Arpaio “kept Arizona safe” — however, Arpaio’s actions were reprehensible, unconstitutional, and followed a long history of violating the law. This pardon sets a dangerous precedent for government officials who are now more likely to believe that they can flout court orders if they don’t agree with them. As an organization, the High School Democrats of Pennsylvania is appalled and disappointed by the President’s decision, which we believe is an endorsement of unfair and unconstitutional methods of enforcing immigration law.

The High School Democrats of Pennsylvania is a student-run, statewide chapter of the High School Democrats of America. Follow us on twitter @PennHSDems and like us on Facebook. For information about how to start a chapter, please contact us at pennsylvania@hsdems.org.

