Phoenix Sweeps To Get Greater Scrutiny From Obana's Justice Department

The much publicized "crime sweeps" of Maricopa County (Phoenix) Sheriff Joe Arpaio is likely to come under greater scrutiny under president-elect Barack Obama' nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder. Already the Justice Department is looking into allegation that the sweeps amount to racial profiling. It was initiated by a letter from Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. Immigrant and Hispanic advocacy groups have also filed lawsuits to stop the sweeps. Holder, when in the Justice department during the Clinton administration, was especially active in racial profiling cases. Stopping "America's toughest sheriff" from using his badger as a weapon against immigrants would be a good first step for the new president to acknowledge the overwhelming support Latino voters gave him in the election. It 's only a matter of justice and fairness. (See Arizona Republic article.) Maybe the Justice Department will also do something more about the treatment of those held in Sheriff Joe's jail.