Arpaio has message for Obama

by Sandra Haros/KTAR (August 14th, 2009 @ 5:26pm) Policy >>

PHOENIX - One day prior to President Barack Obama's visit to the Valley, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has a message for the president: "I don't believe in amnesty. That's what all this is about."

Arpaio says Obama and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano are off the mark when it comes to illegal immigration reform.

"Why doesn't he say, ‘Let's get rid of all the illegals taking these jobs, so our citizens can have the jobs.' Why are they saying that we should only arrest the employer and not the employees that are here illegally?

Now, if I met with the president, I would ask him that question," Arpaio said.

The president says he expects Congress to draft immigration bills this year and he's working on getting the measures passed in 2010. Meanwhile, Arpaio says he'd be happy to share some insight.

"If I was the president, I'd say ‘sheriff, can you come to the White House? I'd like to talk to you about this whole problem.' You don't think that's ever gonna happen? Or Janet, she knows who I am," Arpaio said.

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