Washington (CNN) -- Justice Department lawyers investigating controversial Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio for alleged civil rights violations have extended for another week their demand for his lawyers to turn over documents and cooperate with their inquiry.

The department had given Arpaio until Tuesday to produce documents it believes will help investigators determine whether his policies and law enforcement sweeps discriminate against Hispanics.

Wednesday, the department said its lawyers will meet with Arpaio's lawyers next Tuesday in an effort to resolve the growing dispute. If the effort fails, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Perez has promised the government will sue the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office "to compel access to the requested documents, facilities and personnel."

Arpaio's lawyers, who worked as Justice Department civil rights lawyers during the Bush administration, reject claims Arpaio is uncooperative. The attorneys contend the Justice Department may not require documents simply to see if they can find something to support their suspicions of discrimination.

Arpaio, who has called himself "America's toughest sheriff," is known for his hard-nosed opposition to illegal immigration.

Detractors accuse him of discriminating against Hispanics, while supporters say the Justice Department's civil rights probe and its separate criminal investigation are politically motivated. They charge top Democratic officials in Washington and Phoenix are determined to oust the Republican sheriff, who has been re-elected four times.

Democrats say the investigations are based solely on the facts and the law.
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a new way for obama not to enforce illegal immigration? this man should be a hero, and this is the thanks he gets...

Can't be havin' no uppity 'sheriff' not obeyin' the specific wishes of 'The UN' to let his pipples go ...

this just can't be allowed to stand -

'The UN' and Holder got to cut Sheriff Joe down to size -

just like they're doin' to the rest of America ...

But, but, folks are sayin' Hussein is upholdin' da' Cornstatution. Or, was that holding up?

Semantics!

They couldn't git sheite on him in the time they had. Now, Hussein wants to waste mo' money.

yea, he's good at wasting money.

Good show, he has shown to be prejudice at times.

Unfortunately for Obama and Holder they decided to go after a fighter.

You know he is a ethnic minority right?

i wonder why obama wants to let these illegals in here so bad? whats his angle on this?

NAU, SPP

Been in the works for years.

i was thinking if they blocked off the borders, it would be harder for his muslim friends to get "things" across it and into our country.

Groups like ACORN registering them to vote illegally.

He has still shown to be prejudice at times.

So good show investigating him.

Hopefully they can find something that will stick.

He's not prejudice. He treats all criminals the same.

so what has he done thats predjudice? i haven't heard this till now

Because he actually enforced the Immigration laws that were on the books. This is an interesting piece of information I found.

Immigration enforcement
In 2005, the Arizona state legislature passed a state law making it a felony, punishable by up to two years in jail, to smuggle illegal aliens across the border. While already a federal crime, Arizona’s law, also known as the “Coyote law”, made it legal for local police to enforce immigration law and also classified persons being smuggled as co-conspirators subject to penalties as laid out in the law.

Arpaio has instructed his sheriff's deputies and members of his civilian posse to arrest illegal aliens. Arpaio told the Washington Times, "My message is clear: if you come here and I catch you, you're going straight to jail.... I'm not going to turn these people over to federal authorities so they can have a free ride back to Mexico. I'll give them a free ride to my jail."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maricopa_County_Sheriff%27s_Office_controversies#Joe_Arpaio

they have a coyote law in texas, too

its really not about whether he 'wants' to let them in, there is nowhere that he has implied any such thing

what he 'wants' is the proper authorities to handle the issue

I use spanking, but I dont support a principal at the school doing so.


supporting an action of authority does not have to mean support giving that authority to just anyone,,,

Sheriff Joe is being persecuted for enforcing the law when the Federal's wouldn't and still do anything about the problem.

inaction says alot of words to... i'm happy he signed the bill, but it is to little, to late. but i will give him credit for trying.

Yea but the PROPER authorities arn't handling this issue, which forces him to.