(Image Source: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

He calls himself America’s toughest sheriff. But according to the U.S. Department of Justice, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio might just be too tough -- on inmates’ civil rights, that is.

Here's Tucson's KGUN with more. 

“Federal agents are moving into the Maricopa County Jails, following last week's report on Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his department. The justice department's three-year investigation found they violated civil rights of Latino inmates. So, deputies have lost their privileges to screen and identify illegal immigrants. Fifty ICE agents will replace county officers to do that job.”

A blog on Phoenix New Times explains the program which had allowed Arpaio’s officers to check an inmate’s status.

“[It’s] a program known as 287(g), in which deputies were cross-trained as immigration officers and allowed to access federal databases. The feds had canceled the 287(g) privilege for Arpaio's street-level deputies in 2009 following complaints by the community, but had let the jail program continue and even bragged about its successes.”

The DOJ report released last week alleges that Arpaio’s jail officers were using their 287(g) privileges to racially profile Latino inmates. The department was also accused of having jail policies that deprive prisoners of basic Constitutional rights. (Video: KMSB)

This isn’t Arpaio’s first time to come under fire for how he screens undocumented immigrants. He was subject to a congressional hearing last year for his tactics in enforcing Senate Bill 1070. As Fox News Latino reports, even after this latest investigation, Arpaio remains defiant.

“Arpaio … called the allegations a politically motivated attack by … Obama's administration that will make Arizona unsafe by keeping undocumented immigrants on the street. The Obama administration ‘might as well erect their own pink neon sign at the Arizona-New Mexico border saying welcome illegals to your United States, my home is your home,’ Arpaio said.”

This news comes as Arpaio’s department comes under another fire, as one man named Ernest Atencio is now on life support after being booked at one of his jails. What actually occurred at the jail is still unknown.

Phoenix’s KSAZ talks to a senator who points the finger at Arpaio’s department.

State Sen. Steve Gallardo: “It’s totally unfortunate, you can’t not but ask yourself, what happened? What happened that someone to be brought in to Fourth Avenue Jail, and then turned around had to be sent to St Joseph hospital, with life support?”

Reporter: “Gallardo claims this could be the latest case of abuse by Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office. The sheriff remains tight-lipped.”

Arpaio has said his department is conducting an investigation into the matter. As for the DOJ case, the sheriff has until January 4 to decide whether he would seek a settlement or let the department file a lawsuit.