PHOENIX -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio took his crackdown on illegal immigrants to north Phoenix and was met by hundreds of protesters who called the operation racial profiling at its worst. The operation continued on Friday.

More than a dozen people were arrested Thursday as dozens of sheriff's deputies and posse members patrolled the area where day laborers gather near Cave Creek and Bell roads. Arpaio said eight of the first 13 arrested were illegal immigrants.

The sheriff shook off taunts from protesters, at least one of whom had a sign supporting Dan Saban, who is challenging Arpaio in this fall's election.

"Joe Arpaio, you should do your job, catch all the child abusers, the rapists," one woman yelled.

Arpaio said of the protesters, "They're civil, they're making some derogatory remarks, but this is freedom of speech as long as they don't interfere with our operation. So we're going to continue to do our job."

He said as long as the protesters didn't interfere, "it doesn't bother me."

The sheriff said businesses in the area requested help, complaining that crime is up because of illegal immigrants who gather there.

"About 10 businesses asked us to come into this area. They're concerned once again about the crime and the illegal alien activity, so we are here," he said.

Protesters said that is not the case.

"There's no crime," one woman said. "The crime is out there, but not by the immigrants. People here are trying to work, make a living and they're not letting them."

Among the protesters who accused the sheriff of racial profiling was Kevin Greathouse, who is Jewish.

"Once upon a time, groups like this took my relatives away and they're not here to talk about it anymore," Greathouse said. "Now they want to take their relatives. This is wrong, this is not the law. The media hog has got to stop."

Greathouse added, "This is harming our community, it is harming our economy. It is wrong to racially profile like this, it is wrong."

The operation is the second big patrol for illegal immigrants in a month. The first was in the area of 32nd Street and Thomas Road, also a prime location for day laborers to gather.

The crackdown is not costing the county any money, Arpaio said. He said the operations are financed with $2 million provided by the state Legislature to hire 15 deputies to enforce immigration laws.