Jane Sanders tours "Tent City" with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Jane Sanders, the wife of 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, joined Springfield native Sheriff Joe Arpaio to tour the "Tent City" conditions at Arizona's Maricopa County jail.

(Photo courtesy: Joe Arpaio's Twitter)

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Jane Sanders, the wife of 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, took aim at Springfield native Sheriff Joe Arpaio Tuesday over the "Tent City" conditions at a Maricopa County, Arizona jail.

Sanders, who joined immigration rights leaders and Arpaio in viewing the facility on Monday, blasted the sheriff for failing to attempt to explain or excuse what she called "his inhumane treatment of people of color."

Instead, she contended, he justified having inmates live outside in canvas tents in temperatures that can reach over 130 degrees by saying they're prisoners, as well as "bragged about removing meat from all their meals and having chain gangs."

Sanders called the jail's conditions disturbing, arguing that such an attitude from an elected official is unacceptable.

"We all need to stand up and put an end to these egregious human rights abuses," she said in a statement. "Today only solidified the need for comprehensive immigration and criminal justice reform I know that as president Bernie would do just that and keep families safe."

Arpaio has long defended the so-called "Tent City," which uses donated Korean War tents to house inmates, and questioned criticisms of it being "inhumane."

"If Tent City is as bad as critics and activists say, why have four U.S. presidential candidates visited the tents during campaign stops?" he said in a July 2015 release. "No presidential candidate would step foot in Tent City if it truly was the cruel and inhumane jail my critics claim it to be."

Arpaio, who has publicly endorsed Republican front-runner Donald Trump's presidential bid, said via Twitter that he invited Sanders on the tour after hearing she was meeting with immigrants outside the facility.

Despite his endorsement of Trump, the sheriff, who has become known for his hard-line stance on immigration, further invited Sanders' husband and fellow Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton to tour his jail.

Media reports, Senator Sanders wife will visit my Tent city jail today, 4 pres candidates have visited in past,Hillary & Bernie also welcome — Sheriff Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) March 14, 2016

Arpaio, who has identified himself as "a kid from Six Corners," previously supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's respective 2008 and 2012 Republican presidential bids.