JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. -
Remarks from the Johnston County Sheriff regarding race have divided members of the community.

Some are outraged, while others stand behind Sheriff Steve Bizzell’s remarks about illegal immigrants.

The News and Observer on Sunday published an article where Sheriff Bizzell was quoted saying that Mexicans are "trashy" and illegal immigrants "breed like rabbits." Monday, the newspaper published an apology written by the sheriff.

Tuesday the ACLU requested records to make sure Johnston County authorities have been following state laws in regards to ethnic profiling. The next day the Johnston County attorney said his office has no plans to reply to that request, saying that Bizzell’s private attorney has the documents and will handle the matter.

Sheriff Bizzell declined to comment, but his remarks are still the talk of the county.

At a small Latino grocery and convenience store in Smithfield, Sheriff Bizzell's remarks are splashed across the local Latino newspaper. William Arzola, an immigrant from Venezuela who is now an American citizen, said the comments are hurtful because every race has people who can break the law.

"It's really mean when he said when he put the whole community in one box, Latinos. We are more than one country we are more than one culture,â€