Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 12:14pm MST | Modified: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 12:52pm

ACLU asks Obama to nix immigration pacts with Arpaio, other local police - by Mike Sunnucks


The American Civil Liberties Union is asking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the Obama administration to do away with agreements that allow local police to help enforce immigration laws.

The request comes a day before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee holds hearings on immigration policies that is likely put Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on the hot seat. The sheriff also is facing a federal lawsuit over his policies.

The ACLU, Hispanic activists and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon say Arpaio unfairly targets Hispanics in immigration raids and crime sweeps.

There are an estimated 579,000 illegal immigrants in the state, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. Most of them are from Mexico with Arizona a prime entry point into the U.S. for migrants, smugglers, kidnappers and drug cartels.

The sheriff vigorously defends the immigration raids and crime sweeps saying his deputies are enforcing the law.

The ACLU is calling for an end to all partnerships under the 287(g) program, which trains and allows local and county police forces to enforce immigration statutes. The group also is pushing for a federal law that would require police to document all contacts with the public to better track racial and ethnic profiling.

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