GRAHAM, N.C. (AP) — Immigration officials have blocked a North Carolina sheriff’s access to the federal database used to check whether arrestees are in the country illegally.

The move comes after a two-year U.S. Department of Justice investigation determined that Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson illegally targeted and arrested Latinos without probable cause to boost deportations. Johnson has been a vocal supporter of a federal program that trained local law enforcement officers to perform immigration checks.

A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Wednesday the 287(g) program contract with Alamance County had been terminated, effective immediately. The two-year contract had been set to expire in October.