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DOJ Sues Sheriff Joe Over Racial Profiling

The Justice Department today announced the filing of its civil rights lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his department for engaging in racial profiling of Latinos. The New York Times has more, and background is here.

The Justice Department's December, 2011 report finding systemic profiling is here.

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Sheriff Joe's Latest Immigration Stunt

I could leave his name out of the article, but by now you'd all know who he is: AZ most reprehensible Sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Here's what he's up to now:

Months ago, Arpaio and his deputies began scouring Hispanic neighborhoods in the Phoenix area looking for illegal immigrants. So far, hundreds have been hauled away.

Often in these types of operations, "probable cause" gets defined as brown skin and Spanish accents. So, there is no telling how many U.S.-born Hispanics were detained and harassed in the process.

All of which sets the stage for the stunt. The man who put inmates in pink underwear and fed them green bologna has some people in Arizona seeing red after he recently paraded about 200 illegal immigrants in shackles and prison stripes to his notorious "Tent City." Of course, Arpaio did this after alerting the media.

The inmates are to stay in the tents until sentenced and deported. That's right. They haven't been convicted or sentenced yet. But in Maricopa County, the little things need not interfere with punishment.

Is former AZ top cop, now Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano going to rein him in? I wouldn't put money on it.

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