Phoenix, Arizona, Anti-immigrant groups signed petitions as Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio sent deupties and members of the sheriff's posse into a north Phoenix neighborhood during one of several highly-publicized searches for undocumented immigrants. The sweeps have set off noisy confrontations between pro- and anti-immigrant groups and earned the condemnation of the city's mayor. The petitions opposed the city police policy of not asking the immigration status of individuals they are dealing with, which contrasts sharply with the county sheriff's policy.