After saying he’ll back Trump, Arpaio calls for US to deport DACA recipients

PHOENIX — After saying he would support a bill that would allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals-eligible people to remain in the United States if President Donald Trump does, U.S. Senate candidate Joe Arpaio said those same people should be deported.

“When we come across these kids, or some are older than just kids, then deport them,” he told NPR. “You deport them back to the country they came from.”

Arpaio said the children, most of whom have American educations, could do good in their native countries.

“They can do a lot of good in those countries … and help out and be good ambassadors from the United States to their country,” he said, adding that they could then apply to enter the country legally.

The former sheriff also said he does not want to close the border but he wants a solution to immigration.

“I’m sure that the Senate — I would hope — and the House would make some decisions finally, after all these years when they don’t have the guts to make a decision,” he said.

Arpaio’s words to NPR were a flip from what he told CNN on Wednesday.

“Well, first of all, if I was a senator now and the president really wanted this, I probably would back him up on it because I really do respect his judgment,” he said on if he would vote to support a DACA bill.

However, Arpaio left himself some wiggle room when speaking with the television outlet.

“Everybody knows I’m not a rubber stamp,” he told the network. “I don’t have a stamp but I like to get along and argue situations and come to a good conclusion.”

Arpaio’s statement to NPR was more in line with the hardline immigration stance he has taken in the past. He has long been an advocate for cracking down on illegal immigration and conducted controversial sweeps of Phoenix-area businesses during his 24 years in office.

Arpaio was convicted last year of misdemeanor contempt of court for failing to halt the sweeps after they were ruled illegal. He was pardoned by Trump months later.

The president has softened on DACA since his campaign. The then-nominee promised to end DACA immediately upon taking office.

He later told Time that he wanted to work on something “that’s going to make people happy and proud” and has since called for legislation written with “great heart” that can be termed “a bill of love.”

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