Sheriff: Illegal Immigrant Hotline Ringing Off the Hook

The Maricopa County sheriff's hotline to report ‘suspected' illegal immigrants has been ringing off the hook.

The hotline was launched about a month ago and has received about 1,200 messages, which include tips about family and friends, employers, day laborers, drop houses and crank calls.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says there haven't been that many arrests. "And the reason is we do not go around knocking doors down."

Latino leaders and faith-based organizations want Arpaio to disconnect the hotline, saying it raises the chance of racial profiling.

"We're going out of our way not to receive any allegations since the other side have formed four hotlines to go after me."

The ACLU is critical of sheriff's hotline.

Dan Pochoda is the legal director of the Arizona ACLU. He says the sheriff's hotline in and of itself does not appear to be illegal.

"We are monitoring the situation because on it's face it would not be found to be illegal, but in practice the realities are such that is likely to be applied in a discriminatory manner," Pochoda said.

"But it does appear here that the goal here is to get the people based on their status and not because of their criminal acts. And it is clear the indecii of status is dark skin."

The ACLU is not taking any legal action right now. But Pochoda says the group is closely monitoring the hotline.