Immigrant group sues Arizona

PHOENIX, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- An immigrant rights group has sued Arizona, claiming that funds belonging to the innocent are being seized in an effort to crack down on human smugglers.

Three plaintiffs who had lost money wired by Western Union filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, the Arizona Republic reported. They are sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to certify the suit against state Attorney General Terry Goddard as a class action. Goddard has frozen many wire transfers via Western Union and similar services to prevent illegal immigrants from paying the "coyotes" who guided them over the Mexican border.

The coalition charges that Goddard is engaged in broad racial profiling.

"What this situation requires is targeted rifle-shot action to take out coyotes and drug smugglers," Josh Hoyt, the coalition's executive director said in a statement. "But Attorney General Goddard is practicing a legal drive-by shooting."