Phoenix sheriff invites key congressman

PHOENIX, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he has invited a top congressman to take a ride-along with his anti-alien-smuggling unit.

The outspoken Maricopa County lawman extended the written invitation to Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, after a coalition of congressmen called for a federal investigation into Arpaio's department.

Arpaio offered to give Conyers a tour of his agency's facilities and have him spend some time with its Human Smuggling Unit.

The Arizona Republic said Wednesday that the lawmakers expressed concern about claims that Maricopa deputies use people's skin color as a basis to ask them about their immigration status.

The coalition also asked that Washington terminate its cooperation agreements between the sheriff's department and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.