Recent immigration sweeps carried out in Maricopa County, Arizona led residents of the town of Guadalupe to meet yesterday to discuss their options for terminating their public safety contract with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's deputies saturated the town in a two day operation last month, to question residents about their immigration status. Many residents of the heavily Latino and Yaqui Indian town complained of racial profiling and unlawful detentions. The Maricopa County Sheriff has gained national attention for creating a model for local enforcement of federal immigration laws; but some say that he's gone too far. A coalition of local, state, and national groups has launched a 130 mile walk through the Arizona desert to call national attention to what they say is a pattern of racial profiling, hate crimes, and violations of the constitution in Maricopa County. Shannon Young reports.

Back to Newscast Friday May 5, 2008