PHOENIX -- The Rev. Al Sharpton said he came to the Valley to meet Sheriff Joe Arpaio, because he's disturbed by the allegations against the sheriff.

The sheriff said he told Sharpton not to believe everything he hears or reads in the media, but to have an open mind.

The never-ending debate over illegal immigration took over the breezeway of the Wells Fargo building Friday.

There were dueling protests, with folks on both sides, trying to convince the other of their viewpoint.

"It's not a human rights issue. It has nothing to do with human rights,” said Arpaio supporter Sharon Lynn Sullins, “because if it did, then we would have a guest-worker program already established, and we wouldn't be screaming for amnesty."

At times the arguments became heated, but Phoenix police stood on hand to make sure no one went too far.

This time, most of the talk focused around Sharpton's much-hyped visit to the Valley.

"It brings the social ills to a public limelight so they can get debated at a higher level," said Adolfo Maldonado, who disagrees with the sheriff’s enforcement.

The publicized meeting between Sharpton and the Sheriff took place upstairs on the 19th floor of the Wells Fargo building.

"I have a feeling that he was really listening," said Arpaio.

Arpaio described the hour-long meeting as cordial and civil.

He said he has an open-door policy and did most of the talking while Sharpton listened and asked questions.

"I don't think he agrees with everything we do. I think the old saying, 'We agree to disagree,' but I think he learned something about how we operate," said Arpaio.

Sharpton's day in Phoenix began as the keynote speaker at a unity prayer breakfast at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.

He was in town to address the alleged racial profiling from the sheriff's immigration sweeps, and he broadcasted his national radio show from a valley restaurant.

Sharpton said he plans to get freedom riders to drive through the city and videotape those sweeps by the sheriff.