Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio suggested that Donald Trump’s remarks in June that immigrants from Mexico are “rapists” went too far in an interview with Jorge Ramos published on Fusion Wednesday.
“I agree with him on one aspect, that we do have rapists and murderers coming across the border, but not everybody,” Arpaio told Ramos.
“I think Mr. Trump was frustrated at the many crimes committed in this country by those from Mexico, including coming across the border illegally — that happens to be a criminal offense,” he continued. “But when you mention rapists and murders, okay, I don’t think the majority of people from Mexico are rapists and murderers.”
Ramos then asked the sheriff if he supports mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
“It’s very simple — not knocking doors down and dragging people out, but when you come across someone on a violation of the state law, local law, and they happen to be here illegally, yes, then you deport them — very simple,” he responded. “If the illegals don’t get caught doing anything wrong, they’re not going to get deported.”
Arpaio recently settled a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice, which alleged that the sheriff discriminated against Hispanic immigrants during traffic stops and unlawfully detained Hispanic immigrants.
When Ramos asked about the DOJ’s allegations that he targeted Hispanics, Arpaio responded, “That’s their opinion. I don’t know where they get that.”
Ramos was removed from a Trump press conference in August after he attempted to ask the presidential candidate about immigration without first being called on. Ramos was later let back into the press briefing, where he debated with Trump about the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Watch Ramos interview with Arpaio via Fusion:
