When Jesus said, “Suffer the little children,” I don’t think this is quite what he had in mind.

From the New York Times blog:

Here is a video from a recent immigrant-suppression sweep by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, Ariz. It’s painful to watch – two of the victims are young children who have been forcibly separated from their mother, who was turned over to federal immigration authorities.

Immigrant advocates say the sheriff is terrorizing Latino communities with raids like these, and using police-state tactics to stifle criticism. The man on the video who tries to shut the camera down is a member of Sheriff Arpaio’s “posse.”

About one minute into the video, you’ll see and hear the children whose mother was taken from them on the spot.

The lack of a comprehensive solution to the flow of migration in our country has bred an environment of fear and insecurity in immigrant communities, particularly in border states. To find out more about self-proclaimed “America’s Toughest Sherriff” Joe Arpaio and his anti-immigrant antics, check out America’s Voice’s campaign calling for a full investigation of his office by the Department of Justice.

Allison Johnson is the campaign coordinator for Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR).