Indeed he is, although I fail to see how that refutes my assessment of him or the immigration bill. But your argument is a familiar one: elected officials can be bad, but it’s up to the people to do something about it! The fact that the voters of Maricopa County continue to keep a thug like Arpaio in office is hardly a ringing endorsement of democracy.

“ICE cannot strip the Sheriff from enforcing existing immigration laws.”

Sure they can. For better or worse, immigration laws are created and enforced by the Federal government. ICE has been recruiting and training local LEOs to carry out immigration enforcement activities. Arpaio overstepped his bounds by carrying out raids in cities where he does not have primary jurisdiction. Therefore, ICE told him he couldn’t do that anymore, not that he seems to be listening.

In any case, the new bill does give him authority to arrest illegals, so it has interesting implications for federalism, but it doesn’t change my argument.

“comparing the arrest and deportation of people that are in the country illegally to genocide is really, really stupid.”

I sure am glad I didn’t make that comparison then! But maybe you’re conflating genocide with ethnic cleansing. They’re not synonymous.

Also, comparing the arrest and deportation of people that are in the country illegally to genocide is really, really stupid. Whatever position one takes on the issue.