What is your opinion on this debate Arpaio, Sharpton clash over crime sweep?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Rev. Al Sharpton squared off Friday over another crime suppression sweep planned by the sheriff.

Arpaio planned to conduct his first sweep since the federal government said he could not make street arrests for violations of federal immigration laws. Sharpton made his second trip to the Valley in five months and condemned the crime sweeps before speaking at an Arizona State University Civil Rights Forum.

Sharpton was not convinced the sheriff would go through with Friday's crime sweep.

"He may be bluffing to try to play to his crowd that he's not backing down and it's really going to be nothing," Sharpton said, adding, "It may be that he wants to be Bull Connor and defy the federal government. We'll see."

Sharpton said, "I think the federal government should watch very carefully to see if he (Arpaio) crosses the line and whether he respects the law of the land that he claims he's trying to enforce. I hope he's just posturing and bluffing."

Sharpton said, if Arpaio is taken out of the mix, Arizona is no better or worse than any other state when it comes to civil rights.

Earlier this month, the federal government stripped Arpaio of his authority to make arrests on the street for violations of immigration laws, although it said he can continue to question jail inmates about their immigration status once they are arrested.

Arpaio vowed the change will not curtail his fight against illegal immigration. He did not reveal details of Friday's sweep, but was vocal about his intentions.

"I don't have a problem," he said. "I'm still going to arrest illegals under state laws and when we come across them, on traffic (violations) or anything else... We will continue doing crime supression. It will not stop."

Past sheriff's sweeps have been denounced as racial profiling targeting Hispanics. Arpaio denied any racial profiling and said the crime sweeps were in high-crime areas and aimed at criminals, along with employers who are violating state law against hiring illegals.

Sharpton came to the Valley five months ago to protest the sheriff's sweeps. He met with Arpaio at that time, but said his focus was not just on the sheriff.

Arpaio blasted the federal government Thursday for trying to restrict his immigration policies.

"The U.S. government can try to do everything they want to curtail local law enforcement," he said. "They have to understand we have state laws and we'll just increase enforcing the state laws."

Arpaio's critics said they would be out in force to protest Friday's activities. Arpaio said he had a new secret weapon if critics tried to videotape his deputies as they have in the past.

"I'm not going to tell you right now," he said. "I call it a special tool and what we do will be legal."

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