Wilcox wants Justice Department to investigate inmates' move

Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox has vowed to seek a federal investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's decision to segregate illegal immigrants in his Tent City Jail.

"It's a brand new Washington, and we're going to have to use the Justice Department to look into this abuse," Wilcox said after Arpaio moved about 200 convicted illegal immigrants from the Durango Jail to a fenced area at Tent City Wednesday afternoon.

"You don't have to make us the laughing stock of the United States by doing stunts like this, and you don't have to abuse people. And that's what everybody is feeling," Wilcox said in the latest of several clashes between her and the sheriff.

Arpaio was not fazed.

"I would highly recommend that she volunteer to spend some time in the tents before she starts yapping away," he said. "How about spending a couple of nights in the tents like I did? I slept in the tents with all these inmates."

Arpaio said he put the illegal immigrant inmates together in a separate area to make it easier for visits from officials of their home countries. He said illegal inmates from all foreign countries are in the area and it is not a racial issue.

Bill Strauss witht he Anti-Defamation League questioned that.

"If they're only under arrest for being in the country illegally, I don't know what special threat they represent that requires segregation," Strauss said.

He said black and Hispanic prisoners were segregated in several Arizona prisons about five years ago, but that action was based on gang affiliation and safety issues.

The inmates, dressed in pink underwear and prison stripes, walked as a chain gang to the tented area Wednesday afternoon.Many of them carried their belongings in plastic trash bags. Some tried to shield their faces from cameras while others complained the move was racist.

Approximately 50 protesters gathered near the Durango Jail before Arpaio handcuffed the inmates and marched them to their new headquarters at Tent City a few blocks away.

Former Arizona senator Alfredo Gutierrez said Arpaio's move is a shameless PR stunt.

"This sort of Roman Circus theatrics are unique to him. This is his perverse mind," he said.

One of the inmates, Omar Godinez, said they were first led to believe that they had the option of moving to Tent City if they wanted.

"Immigration went to our bunks and asked us if we wanted to come here," Godinez said. "I didn't sign for this at all. So, basically I'm here without my consent."

Arpaio said the illegal immigrants will be held together at Tent City while awaiting legal proceedings, until their sentences are served or until they can be deported to their home countries.

Tent City opened in August 1993.

Arpaio said the illegal immigrants will be treated like all other inmates at Tent City, except he wants them to be instructed about American immigration laws. He also said that those who violate jail rules may end up on chain gangs, cleaning up Valley areas which have been impacted by the human trafficking trade.

Illegal aliens in custody of the Sheriff's Office have ballooned in recent days. The sheriff's office said it has arrested 67 illegals -- 56 of whom face felony charges -- in the past 13 days. Thirty were arrested Wednesday night in three separate traffic stops during a 90-minute period near Interstate 17 and New River Road north of Phoenix.