At the Arizona Republic, "Protesters in Oracle inspired by Murrieta":
#PCSO says buses will arrive "shortly" in #Oracle. Group of protestors wait. #cbs5az http://t.co/G3YB8TLj0G
— Greg Argos (@GregArgosCBS5) July 15, 2014
#PCSO says buses will arrive "shortly" in #Oracle. Group of protestors wait. #cbs5az http://t.co/G3YB8TLj0G
— Greg Argos (@GregArgosCBS5) July 15, 2014
Protestors on Mt. Lemmon Highway. The music shuffles between pop country hits and patriotic ballads. pic.twitter.com/8WOhZtvtwZ
— Mariana Dale (@mariana_dale) July 15, 2014
Pipeline of Migrant Children: A remote boys retreat in Oracle, AZ is site where up to 50 boys will be housed by Feds. pic.twitter.com/jcuTKAwkpi
— JOE DANA (@JoeDanaReports) July 15, 2014
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu has played a key role in dueling protests planned for today in Oracle over the arrival of Central American immigrant children at a youth ranch — a position that has left the sheriff's critics and supporters at odds over whether he is inciting unrest or simply sharing information.
Last week, Babeu, a strong border-security proponent, mentioned that the displaced children were coming to Oracle as he promoted the candidacy of Christine Jones for governor. He later told political supporters and advocates of stricter immigration enforcement the exact location of the juvenile detention center where the displaced children will be temporarily housed.
Until then, a detention center for wayward youths in the Catalina Mountains called the Sycamore Canyon Academy had been a secret. The Sheriff's Office learned of the location from "whistle-blowers" within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Babeu's spokesman said in a news release Monday.
"We already have our hands full fighting the drug cartels and human smugglers. We don't need unaccompanied juveniles from Central America being flown into Arizona, compliments of President Obama," Babeu said in the statement. "Local residents have every right to be upset and to protest."
Babeu is deploying an unknown number of deputies to the site in southern Pinal County. The ranch has taken on extra staff in preparation for the children, who are described by people on one side of the immigration debate as refugees and and on the other as illegal immigrants.
Both sides will be in Oracle today. From 50 to 300 protestors are expected, Sheriff's Office Director of Administration Tim Gaffney said. No group asked for a permit, and they will be prevented from blocking roads, he said.
The planned Oracle protests could be a repeat of a recent showdown in the Southern California town of Murrieta, an inspiration to activists such as Robert Skiba. "We're going to stop it if we can," Skiba said.
"We will take all peaceful means necessary to stop the buses from entering this place."
Protesters in Murrieta, a city of 107,000 about 60 miles west of Palm Springs, thrust the community into the national spotlight earlier this month when demonstrators blocked buses carrying recent immigrants to be processed at a Border Patrol facility there. Another round of buses slated to arrive in the city on July 4 was rerouted, but dozens of people on both sides protested anyway. Six were arrested.
Skiba, a Babeu supporter, said he first learned of the transfer of children from Babeu at a National Rifle Association luncheon last week.
Alicia Bristow, another protest organizer, told allies in an e-mail Monday: "I spoke with Paul B. yesterday and he said the only way to stop this was for our community and the area to organize; and to contact our congressional members to tell them to stop this ludicrous dumping of illegals all over the country and especially, Pinal County."
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