As part of an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio takes part in enforcing immigration laws; ICE has given his efforts a clean bill of health. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and their Arizona chapter, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP have sued Arpaio, his Sheriffs Office (MCSO), and the county itself claiming racial profiling. Also involved is the local group Somos America.

The details on the case are here: aclu.org/immigrants/gen/36011prs20080716.html. That also promotes Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon's complaints about Arpaio; Gordon's opponents may have enough signatures to force a vote on his recall.

Meanwhile, the ACLU of AZ and MALDEF are part of a group headed by Peter Schey, someone with a series of links to the Mexican government. Their San Diego branch is directly collaborating with that government. Perhaps they should just cut out the middleman and sue him directly.

The lawyers involved:

ACLU of Arizona: Legal Director Dan Pochoda
ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project: Robin Goldfaden and Monica Ramirez
MALDEF: Kristina Campbell and Nancy Ramirez
Steptoe & Johnson: David J. Bodney, Peter Kozinets, Karen Hartman-Tellez and Isaac Hernandez

UPDATE: Per this, the sweeps might have decreased the MCSO's ability to respond to calls, but there might be other factors involved.