Joe Arpaio: Barack Obama Wants Amnesty

POLITICO’

By Kate Glueck

August 17, 2012

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79827.html?hp=f3

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a controversial law enforcement figure from Arizona, blasted the Obama administration’s immigration policies Friday, saying, “"This administration wants amnesty.”"

"“The bottom line is they want amnesty,”" Arpaio said on CNN'’s “Starting Point.”

His comments on CNN’'s “Starting Point” came a day after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order to prevent young illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits — like a driver'’s license — in the wake of the Obama administration’'s new deferred action policy, an initiative that allows illegal immigrants under the age of 30 to apply for work permits.

Arpaio slammed Obama'’s legislation as political gamesmanship.

“"Why did the president sign an executive order at this time, when there’'s an election coming up?"” Arpaio said. “"So this is definitely politics, this whole situation on illegal immigration. And the White House and Congress, one of these days, should look at it, forget the executive orders, but get some laws passed. That'’s what should be happening."

Soledad O’Brien, the host of “Starting Point,” asked Arpaio whether hard-line stances on immigration could prove problematic for Republican politicians in Arizona, a state with a significant Hispanic population.

“"You think I'’m concerned? I'’m up for reelection for the sixth time,"” he said. “"I know that some of the Latinos don'’t like what I'’m doing. But you have to do what you took an oath of office to do, and I'’m going to do it. … We have to do what'’s right for the people of this state and this country and forget the politics, if that can ever be accomplished.”"

"In theory," he said, "that could be accomplished if people discussed the question of illegal immigration in a civil manner. But that'’s unlikely in the current political climate," Arpaio said.

"“Be here legally, and then that will solve a problem,"” Arpaio said. “"But that’'s going to be very difficult to accomplish in the environment that we'’re in right now.”"