Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorses Donald Trump for president

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a nationally known but controversial immigration hard-liner, on Tuesday officially endorsed Donald Trump for president.

Arpaio on Tuesday was expected to attend a Trump event in Marshalltown, Iowa, where the Republican presidential race has been marked by harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric. Arpaio previously has appeared at Phoenix and Mesa rallies for Trump, who has promised mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and a new border wall if elected.

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Arpaio's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was found by a federal judge to have racially profiled Latinos during enforcement activities.

“Donald Trump is a leader," Arpaio said in a written statement distributed by Trump's presidential campaign. "He produces results and is ready to get tough in order to protect American jobs and families. I have fought on the front lines to prevent illegal immigration. I know Donald Trump will stand with me and countless Americans to secure our border. I am proud to support him as the best candidate for President of the United States of America."

Trump added in a written statement: “I have great respect for Sheriff Arpaio. We must restore law and order on the border and respect the men and women of our police forces. I thank him for his support of my policies and candidacy for President.”

Trump and GOP rival Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas are battling for supremacy in Iowa, which holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday.

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Arpaio historically has been courted by Republican presidential candidates. In the 2008 primaries, Arpaio backed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney over a fellow Arizonan, Sen. John McCain. McCain won the GOP nomination that year. In the 2012 race, Arpaio threw his support to then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose candidacy also was unsuccessful.

Arizona's presidential preference election, or primary, is March 22.

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Nowicki is The Arizona Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @dannowicki and on his official Facebook page.