The National Veterans Coalition presented Sheriff Joe Arpaio with its America First Award on Monday at the State Capitol, as members, family and friends of the group marched in support of the sheriff.
“I get a lot of awards, but this is a little special to me because I am a veteran and I love the veterans,” Arpaio said.
The group, which is associated with the Constitution Party, selected Arpaio for its award because of his policy on illegal immigration.
“It’s a criminal violation to come across this border, but nobody talks about what do you do when you catch [illegal immigrants],” Arpaio told the group of several dozen supporters. “You put them in jail because they can’t send money back, and if they can’t come here because they’re going to end up in jail, they’re not going to come.”
Anna Gaines, a Mexican-American who moved legally to the country at age 20, said she supports Arpaio because of his strict enforcement of the laws.
“He’s the only one enforcing the laws, and we have laws that say illegal immigrants should not be here,” Gaines said. "Illegal is illegal. You have to come here the right way.
“I came here legally; I came here the right way,” Gaines said. “I’m brown, but I’m an American citizen, and as an American citizen I will support this country and its laws.”
Marching between Adams and Jefferson streets in downtown Phoenix, supporters of Arpaio shouted various chants, such as “Go Joe, Sheriff Joe” and “Sheriff Joe for president.”
Among the supporters was Mesa resident Richard Ingebretsen, whose father earned his citizenship in 1938 after migrating from Norway.
Ingebretsen said he agreed with Arpaio’s stance on illegal immigration.
“Anybody can come in here, as long as they do it legally,” Ingebretsen said. “When my dad got his citizenship we celebrated that day the same way we would Christmas, his birthday or anything.”
Supporters at the rally came from all over Maricopa County, as well as parts of California. Members of the Minuteman Project, based in Laguna Hills, Calif., were also present.
Raymond Herrera, a spokesman for the Minuteman Project, said he came to Arizona to show support for Arpaio because the sheriff supports the rule of law in America.
“A man who is willing to enforce the law these days is the right man for the job and the right man for America,” Herrera said.
The veterans group, which is associated with the Constitution Party, considers securing the country’s borders to be one of the country’s basic issues, chairman Larry Breazeale said.
“As veterans, we didn’t fight and serve our country for open borders,” said Breazeale, a veteran of the Vietnam War. “When we see a sheriff like Joe Arpaio, we want to recognize him for everything that he’s done.”
He said the award is given to people who are putting the Constitution and America first, despite the odds or whether the action is popular or not.
Arpaio, the first recipient of the America First Award, is up for re-election this November for what could be his fourth term.
The Republican faces Democrat Dan Saban and Libertarian Chris Will.
“Since I’ve been the sheriff, I always go to the people," Arpaio said. "I don’t serve the bureaucrats or the politicians. I serve the four million people that we know of that live in this county.
“I do my thing, and I let the people decide if they want to rehire me every four years.”
Reach the reporter at snrodri@asu.edu.
