The following statement can be attributed to ACLU of Illinois Communications and Public Policy Director Ed Yohnka:
 
"Sheriff Joe Arpaio implemented policies that targeted and violated the rights of communities of color across Maricopa County, Arizona. He was convicted in federal court of willfully violating a federal court order that required his agency to stop detaining people based solely on suspected civil immigration violations.
 
Trump’s pardon is a message to other law enforcement officials who seek to deliberately violate people’s constitutional rights. It is also another disturbing signal to the emboldened white nationalist movement in this country that the White House supports racism and bigotry.
 
Here in Chicago, we face a broken police department in need of reform. The President of the United States has shown again that his administration is unwilling to hold law enforcement accountable. The City cannot reform the police department by cutting a deal with the current Department of Justice."