After saying last week he would accept a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio may just get his wish. The president told FOX News on Sunday that he's "seriously considering" giving the longtime Arizona sheriff a pass for his recent contempt of court violation.

"He has done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration," Trump told FOX. "He's a great American patriot, and I hate to see what has happened to him."

Arpaio, who is perhaps best known for his brutal jailing policies and extreme stance on illegal immigration, was convicted of contempt of court in July for carrying out racial profiling practices against a judge's order. In 2011, Arpaio was ordered to stop directing authorities to detain suspected undocumented immigrants, even if they hadn't committed a crime—a practice that was deemed unconstitutional. Last month, a federal judge ruled the sheriff showed a "flagrant disregard" for the order, directing police to "continue business as usual no matter who said otherwise," the Washington Post reports.

The 85-year-old is now awaiting sentencing and could face up to six months in prison, but mentioned last week that while he's "not going to ask," he would accept a pardon from Trump, according to the Arizona Republic.

"I am happy he understands the case," he told FOX News following Trump's announcement. "I would accept the pardon because I am 100 percent not guilty."