Politics

‘We Are Going to Continue Enforcing Illegal Immigration Laws’: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Responds to Obama’s New Immigration Policy

Joe Arpaio Responds to New Immigration Policy, Says Illegals in Maricopa County Will Be Arrested

(Source: KNXV)

Shortly after the Obama administration announced a huge change in U.S. immigration policy, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he will continue enforcing illegal immigration laws in his state.

The new policy states that young illegal immigrants will be eligible for “deferred action” instead of deportation if they meet a certain set of guidelines. The measure, which could affect roughly 800,000 illegal aliens, completely bypassed Congress and was signed by Obama himself.

(Related: Obama Admin Will Bypass Congress to Stop Young Illegals From Being Deported & Grant Work Permits)

“I think people from Mexico are now going to feel, ‘Hey come on in and we’ll get by with it.‘ But it won’t happen in this county. They will be arrested,” Arpaio told KNXV in Phoenix.

Further, Arpaio said that unless Obama’s new policy is enacted into law, he and his department will not enforce it.

“Well, we’re still going to enforce all those illegal immigration laws,” he added. “If this is not a law, we will not enforce it.”

Arpaio went on to say that the new policy is purely a political move by Obama during an election year.

“This seems to be politically motivated,” Arpaio said. “I would rather see the president let Congress decide what to do on this issue and other illegal immigration problems.”

Watch Arpaio’s segment here:

In a separate interview with CNN Host Don Lemon, Arpaio reiterated many of his statements made earlier on KNXV.

“We are going to continue enforcing illegal immigration laws, including state laws,” Arpaio said. “I am more concerned with the politics of this… I would like congress to look at this Dream Act issue next year and do something about it instead of talking all the time and letting the president come up with executive orders.”

He was later asked by the host to clarify his comments on continuing to enforce immigration laws and whether that meant he would ignore the Obama administration’s new policy, which Arpaio called “the first step towards amnesty.”

“No, I’m not going to ignore it… I’m not going to violate the constitution or the laws,” the sheriff replied, seemingly refusing to take a hard stance. “But I am just saying that Congress should look at this situation.”

However, Arpaio did say the “one good thing” about Obama’s new immigration policy is that it may generate interest on the topic from the American people and lawmakers.

Lemon later said that even some Republicans argue that conservatives need to reexamine their views on immigration because it hurts them politically. Arpaio responded, “Let ‘em take a look at it… Don’t worry about the politics, let’s get something done.”

Arpaio even went as far to say that if Congress were to pass legislation that removed all immigration laws, he would enforce the decisions of the people’s representatives.

“If they’re not there, I don’t have to enforce them,” he said about the laws.

His biggest problem with the new immigration policy is the fact that Congress wasn’t consulted and was essentially passed by the equivalent of a presidential executive order.

Watch Arpaio’s CNN interview here:

Comments (124)

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  • thibx
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:08pm

    this president will do anything to get elected. impeach him.

    Report Post »  
  • Santa Cruz Kid
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:03pm

    I will not comply! Sheriff Joe is an example of a REAL American. Stand up folks or lie down.

    Report Post » Santa Cruz Kid  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Good for you Joe!! We have your back Joe!

    Report Post »  
    • Jessica Arnesen
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 4:06pm

      I wonder where Arpaio comes from?!!! definetly Arapiao is not an american last name.

      Report Post »  
    • OutrightOutraged
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:23am

      @Jessica…Well the Name Joe is about as American as it gets…but I can assure no part of Barrack Hussien Obama is American..sounds to me like you dont have a clue what is going on in Our Country..You should educate yourself on what that impostor Obama is doing to our Great Country, you obviously are making comments on things that you have real knowledge of !!!

      Report Post »  
  • Grillmark55
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:02pm

    110% behind Sheriff Joe. Illegal is illegal; just because the putz in the White House appoints criminals to cabinet posts he thinks that he should also give other criminals “rights”
    I think I’d support a tax increase to build one giant-a$$ed prison – the Barak Obama Federal Penitentiary – so long as HE and his minions were the main residents.

    Report Post » Grillmark55  
  • ConservativeQtee
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:02pm

    Legal immigrants to this country stand with you Joe. Somebody stop Obama before we’re a third world country!

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:00pm

    …
    Sheriff Joe Arpaio, keep up the good work.

    Report Post »  
    • Miguelito
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:11pm

      Is is ok for the president of the United States to be above the law? When is ok for the president of the United States to put their hand on a Bible and take an oath to defend the US Constitution then grossly ignores it? People we are losing our liberty! If any president ever deserves impeachment, this president does. Come on Congress get a backbone!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Patriot760
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:59pm

    God bless and be with you, Sheriff Joe!

    Report Post »  
  • discus02
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:58pm

    Read between my middle 3 fingers Obama. It means F a U

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:57pm

    …
    Obama has too much power, and he’s using it for evil.
    It’s time for every state to secede from the Union.

    Report Post »  
  • suedstate
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:51pm

    I immigrated from Canada in the early 60′s had a green card for 7 years before becoming a naturalized citizen, I was not allowed to vote for those 7 years if these people are allowed to vote then this pretender in chief just spit in the faces of all people like me who did it right and obeyed the laws.

    He never had my vote anyway and never will.

    Report Post »  
  • poster
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:47pm

    We love you, Joe.

    Report Post »  
  • Oldphoto678
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:44pm

    Joe can’t really do anything. He doesn’t have the power to deport anyone. All he can do is turn them over to the federal goverment for deportation, and the fed lets them go.
    Just more big talk from Joe Blow.

    Report Post »  
    • dennisS
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:51pm

      He can arrest them and hold them for the feds. He is enforcing the LAW and upholding the Constitution unlike obama.

      Report Post »  
    • Leader1776
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:53pm

      Much he can do. Not sure, it there a statute that prohibits a state from deporting illegals. If you’re sure, please cite.

      Report Post » Leader1776  
    • Laken
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:25pm

      Sheriff Joe will be testifying in Florida.. Monday morning at 9am

      http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/

      Report Post » Laken  
    • angeleyes63
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 4:40pm

      @ OLDPHOTO678
      At least he is doing his job unlike anyone in the most corrupt destructive treasoness admin in history.

      Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:43pm

    The people are behind you Joe………..Obama cannot do this…period. Impeach the bumb-communist-dictator.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • Jessica Arnesen
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 4:17pm

      The animals are supporting Arpaio, last name foreign if you haven’t notice.

      Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:30pm

    don lemon is a smug little jerk. cannot wait to see him cry on air on election night

    Report Post »  
  • corsair18
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:27pm

    I don’t ever want to see anyone who is here illegally, have the right to vote. If, somehow, congress allows them to remain, they should only have provisional citizenship. Anyone with provisional citizenship should NEVER be allowed to vote. They can participate in the economy and benefit from it as anyone else, but since their “citizenship” began with an illegal act, they should never be allowed to vote. Their children will be fully legal.

    Report Post » corsair18  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:26pm

    It’s still about the economy, stupid. There will now be 800k more unemployed on the records.

    Report Post »  
    • GPCJones
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:47pm

      …in other news the unemployment rate rate has drop another 800k….

      Report Post » GPCJones  
  • Simonne
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:24pm

    Obama is always going around Congress to do what he wants & this helps him politically. Saying that, the Republicans do have to come to terms with immigration as they will lose all the hispanic votes & future elections. Not right but that is the reality of it.

    Report Post »  
    • WakingSheep
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:40pm

      Republicans better open up their minds a little more. Think outside the box and listen to younger conservatives or there isn’t much hope left for the GOP.

      Report Post »  
    • mdeputy7
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:28pm

      I don’t care what you think. You don’t go against the constitution just to get votes. Get a backbone people. Most republicans have nothing against immigrants. The problem is the ILLEGAL ones.

      Report Post »  
  • Standing With Israel
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:17pm

    Napolitano has as much right to order this as to order that citizen be executed without trial, or the firstborn of every political enemy be killed. If Congress won’t stop this, why would anyone believe the would intervene if people were actually being beaten or killed by executive order? No one did in when Hitler did the same thing.

    Report Post »  
    • WakingSheep
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:41pm

      And yet we nominated the guy that stated he supported indefinite detention…..
      Where do we go now?….. anybody but Obama?…..

      Report Post »  
  • Standing With Israel
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:16pm

    Executive Orders don’t override the law. Every state will either need to ignore this order or break the law.

    Report Post »  
  • corsair18
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:13pm

    Sheriff Joe seems a little subdued in this interview. I am surprised he is not taking a more militant stand. As one of the guys who have stood up to Obummer and his authoritarian regime, I was hoping for more.

    Report Post » corsair18  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:16pm

      Well, you notice he’s pretty much ALONE in his battle for JUSTICE?

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:18pm

      I’d agree… if you went down there and stood with him!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • geomann
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:28pm

      He’s not alone. I, along with many other citizens, support him fully. I send money to support him as often as I can.

      Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:12pm

    I can’t beieve this guy is still alive. God bless him! It’s like Davey and Goliath.

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • maizy
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:20pm

      My thoughts exactly, esp. after Breitbart’s death. You gotta love Sheriff Joe for standing up
      to these radical thugs. He’s a real American. But I hope he watches his back.

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:06pm

    God bless Sheriff Arpaio…..a true American and one of the few left as far as public officials are concerned.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:05pm

    There is at Least one… Patriot… still in the US!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:17pm

      yes but the future generations coming are sissified an pathetic. we are in trouble if you look at the youth of today

      Report Post »  
    • WakingSheep
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:46pm

      @HorseCrazy
      Might want to watch it with that kind of talk.
      I‘m a younger generation and I’ll be damned if I let any administration rule over me without the U.S. Constitution. I have been preaching it and preaching it.
      THE CONSTITUTION IS EVERYTHING and yet the baby boomers feel the economy is more important than the Constitution.

      Also,
      You baby boomers are the ones that have been choosing the lesser of two evils for all these years.
      Look where that has gotten us. Then we have a true Constitutional candidate step up to run and you sissies follow what MSM tells you to.

      I might be young but I dare you to tread on me.

      Report Post »  
  • Sara72
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:05pm

    Go get em JOE… If they are here illegally, THEY ARE ALREADY BREAKING THE LAW!

    Report Post » Sara72  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:34pm

      Obungler is setting the stage for another race war. Watch your backs people.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • Jessica Arnesen
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 4:04pm

      The young ones that came here before 16 and under 30 will be now “Legal” so how are they expecting to deport a “legal” immigrant? stupid morons, those racist comments make you ignorant, uneducated, racist, narrow minded and discusting human being. This country is made by immigrants!

      Report Post »  
    • OutrightOutraged
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:30am

      @Jessica
      Again I say..you show how ill informed you are every time you post. The truth is out there …educate yourself!! You must be one of those IOS’s

      Report Post »  
  • copatriots
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:03pm

    God bless ya, Sheriff Joe! Stay strong and keep standing for what is right.

    Report Post »  
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