Washington, Sep 2 (EFE).- The U.S. Justice Department is suing controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, famous for his anti-immigrant attitude, for refusing to cooperate in investigations into his office's alleged discrimination against Hispanics.
Arpaio has refused for more than a year to hand over documentation requested by the authorities about the activities of the Maricopa County sheriff's department under his leadership.
The federal government had given Arpaio a deadline of Aug. 17 to turn over the documents originally requested 15 months ago.
Arpaio achieved national fame during the past two decades for his raids to apprehend illegal immigrants and for the severe treatment dealt out to prisoners in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix.
In the lawsuit, filed Thursday with the U.S. District Court in Phoenix, the Justice Department calls Arpaio's refusal to fulfill the requirements of the investigators "unprecedented."
Federal prosecutors are investigating complaints of unconstitutional raids and confiscations, as well as the obligatory use of English in the county jails, a practice that adversely affects people who have little knowledge of that language.
Arpaio has continued his regular raids to detain undocumented immigrants even after a federal judge ordered the suspension of clauses in the Arizona state law criminalizing the undocumented.
The Maricopa County sheriff's office says federal authorities have not specifically explained what it is they are investigating.
