Arizona sheriff Arpaio: Donald Trump will build wall, get tough on illegal immigration

CLEVELAND, July 21 (UPI) -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a controversial figure in Arizona for his tough treatment of illegal immigrants, addressed the Republican National Convention on Thursday and promised that Donald Trump will "build that wall."

Arpaio endorsed Trump during the primaries for the candidate's get-tough approach to immigration and said Thursday that is precisely what's needed to make the United States safe.

"We are more concerned with the rights of illegal aliens and criminals than we are with protecting our own country. That must change," he said. "We need a leader who will protect our border and enforce our laws, because a nation without borders and a nation without laws is no nation at all."

Arpaio also said border states like Arizona and cities like Phoenix, the seat of Maricopa County, are suffering because drugs and criminals are pouring over the border.

"We have terrorists coming over our border, infiltrating our communities and causing massive destruction and mayhem," he said. "Donald Trump will build the wall and restore law and order and keep drugs and illegal immigrants from entering into our country."