Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., strongly criticized Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas for his decision not to prosecute Sgt. Patrick Haab for holding seven immigrants at gunpoint at an Arizona rest stop earlier this month.

“The County Attorney’s decision is wholly inconsistent with the law and severely jeopardizes the public safety of the people of Arizona,” said Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO. “It’s as if he is giving a green light to pull a gun on anybody who looks like they might be Mexican. I believe these actions warrant federal attention, and I call on the U.S. Attorney and the Department of Justice to investigate immediately.”

Murguia pointed to the Haab incident, as well as to the recent presence of vigilantes in several Arizona border communities, as examples of the great harm that extremism can cause. “All Americans, including Latinos, are frustrated with our nation’s broken immigration system; that is why NCLR is working so hard to enact comprehensive immigration reform,” she said. “But it is unacceptable and dangerous for people to take the law into their own hands. And it is even worse for them to be supported in this act by those who are sworn to uphold the law.”

“While we condemn actions that place immigrants, U.S. residents, and law enforcement officials in harm’s way, NCLR is committed to working toward comprehensive immigration reforms to fix our broken system, ensuring that immigrants come legally, safely, and in an orderly manner. We call on others to engage in a thoughtful, constructive debate that respects the law and the seriousness of the issues at hand,” continued Murguia.

“The immigration debate is serious business that calls for the kind of constructive dialogue that can get us to real policy solutions,” Murguia concluded. “For this reason, I’m proud that so many Arizonans, including and especially Latinos, are wearing white ribbons this month to show that they are engaging in prayer, reflection, and honest dialogue in an effort to move the debate forward. These are the best tools for getting to reasonable reforms.”

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