ORACLE, Ariz. (AP) — Protesters carrying signs saying “Return to Sender” and “Go home non-Yankees” faced off with immigrant rights activists in a small Arizona town Tuesday.

Anger has been spreading since Pinal (pih-NAL’) County Sheriff Paul Babeu (BAB’-yoo) warned residents last week that children from Central America caught crossing the border illegally would be placed at the Sycamore Canyon Academy in Oracle.

There were several shouting matches and a group of mariachi musicians got shoved before the skirmishes were quelled.

Babeu addressed both sides of the protesters, asking them to remain civil.

A spokesman for Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva (gree-HAHL’-vuh) said the congressman’s office was told by the federal government that children would not be arriving Tuesday. Babeu’s office cited “whistleblowers” within the Department of Homeland Security that immigrant children were being sent there.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.