Judicial Watch says its investigation has prompted officials in Phoenix, Ariz., to reverse a policy that barred police officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon announced on Monday that he no longer supports the policy, which prohibited officers from inquiring about the immigration status of persons they encounter.

Mr. Gordon also announced the formation of an illegal immigration expert panel to study the policy and to recommend changes.

"There is no question Judicial Watch's investigation and the threat of a lawsuit prompted Mayor Gordon's sudden change of heart on illegal immigration enforcement," said Tom Fitton, president of the government watchdog group. "The mayor's sanctuary policies have severely damaged business owners and taxpayers . . . We are pleased the mayor has finally come to grips with his administration's failure to adequately address the illegal immigration crisis.

"And we support the mayor's public calls for radical change in the way the Phoenix Police Department enforces federal immigration law," Mr. Fitton said.

For the past four months, Judicial Watch has worked with business, community and law enforcement leaders to bring about a change in Phoenix's status as an illegal alien "sanctuary city," Mr. Fitton said.

He said his D.C.-based organization has conducted a comprehensive investigative and public education campaign concerning Phoenix's immigration enforcement policies — interviewing dozens of people, filing numerous public records act requests and analyzing public documents.

"Judicial Watch looks forward to working with Mayor Gordon's commission to ensure that any that any new policies comply with federal immigration law," Mr. Fitton said. "However, if the commission's work results in police immigration policies at odds with federal law, a Judicial Watch lawsuit would still be on the table."

Several large cities acrosss the country, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, have policies barring police officers from asking persons' immigration status or detaining them for the sole purpose of determining it.

The policies were intended to foster a better relationship between immigrant communities and the police but recently have been challenged because of the rising numbers of illegal aliens.

— Jerry Seper, national reporter, The Washington Times