Accused Quote by Joe Arpaio
“In the old days when I was enforcing illegal immigration laws, when I had the authority from the 287G, everybody accused me that 100,000 people from foreign countries left town. They either went back to where they came from or whatever. So if this little old sheriff can cause, if you want to believe it, many, many people leaving and going back to their country, why can't you do that nationwide?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on immigration enforcement, 2015
He argues that local enforcement can trigger mass departures, suggesting a national policy could replicate that effect.
In simple terms: Local enforcement can cause many to leave; he thinks this could work nationwide.
Consider the broader impacts before scaling such policies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- local law enforcement
- national policy debates
- community impact
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is mass removal ethical?
- What are the long‑term societal effects?
Mass departures may cause humanitarian crises and legal challenges.