Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County has earned the reputation of being "America's Toughest Sheriff". For many, though, Sheriff Joe has taken immigration enforcement too far. The Sheriff's Office boasts of arresting close to 1,900 unauthorized immigrants under state law and the same number under federal law, with an additional 33,000 immigrants detained and transferred to federal authorities for deportation.

However, this zero tolerance approach has resulted in lawsuit after lawsuit accusing the Sheriff and his deputies of racial profiling, wrongful detention and other civil rights violations. Even with lawsuits surrounding him and restrictions on his activities from ICE, Sheriff Joe continues to "continue the fight on illegal immigration."

Sheriff Joe Sanctioned For Destroying Evidence in Racial Profiling Case
February 17, 2010
District Court Judge G. Murray Snow ordered sanctions against the Sheriff's office for the illegal destruction of records that were requested in a federal lawsuit. Officials within the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office admitted they had destroyed certain records relating to immigration sweeps, but did so because they hadn't been instructed to keep the records.

Immigration Quote of the Week: Sheriff Joe Defies ICE
February 12, 2010
Sheriff Joe asserts his right to train his deputies in state and federal immigration enforcement even though ICE stripped the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of the ability to make immigration-related arrests in the field months before.

New 287(g) Agreements Met With Disapproval
October 16, 2009
ICE renegotiates its 287(g) program, which gives state and local law enforcement agencies the federal authority to identify and remove criminal aliens under new uniform standards. The new agreements are the result of complaints of mismanagement and abuse by agency partners like Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his Maricopa County deputies.

Immigration Quote of the Week - Sheriff Joe Declares Freedom From the Federal Government
October 10, 2009
With his 287(g) ICE federal immigration enforcement powers restricted, Sheriff Joe makes it known that he will continue on as he always has.

Immigration Quote of the Week - Even Legal Citizens/Residents Aren't Safe When Sheriff Joe is in Charge
August 22, 2009
Another lawsuit for Sheriff Joe and his deputies. This time, Maricopa County officers detain and interrogate a U.S. citizen and his legal permanent resident father who were on their way to work.