THE TELEGRAPH: A controversial sheriff who inspired Arizona's new immigration rules risked provoking more anger on Thursday as he launched a new sweep on crime and illegal immigrants.
Joe Arpaio, dubbed "America's toughest sheriff'" has risked provoking more anger as he launched a new sweep on crime and illegal immigrants after saying he would concentrate on high-crime areas, targeting immigrant smugglers and the houses where they hide their customers.
The sheriff of Maricopa County, which includes the sprawling city of Phoenix, has already conducted 14 so-called "crime suppression" sweeps since 2008.
Critics have complained that the sweeps invariably take place in Hispanic areas and they have accused his deputies of racially profiling Hispanics while conducting them.
He has countered that people stopped by the patrols were approached simply because officers had probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.
Mr Arpaio - who is being investigated by the Justice Department for alleged civil rights abuses - has never seemed concerned by what his critics say and has still been voted back in as sheriff five times.
His popularity is widely believed to have inspired Janet Brewer, Arizona's governor and a politician fighting for re-election, to sign the new state-wide immigration bill which has sparked protests across America. >>> Tom Leonard in New York | Thursday, April 29, 2010
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: Obama administration considers challenges to Arizona immigration law: Federal attorneys are examining legal options to prevent the strict new rules from taking effect this summer. A team of top government lawyers has quietly begun studying legal strategies for the Obama administration to mount a challenge to Arizona's new illegal immigration law, including the filing of a federal lawsuit against the state or joining a suit brought by others who believe the bill unfairly targets Latinos. >>> Richard A. Serrano and Peter Nicholas, Tribune Washington Bureau | Thursday, April 29, 2010
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