(Houston, Texas) - Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told his 17,000 Facebook followers he will not support Immigration Customs Enforcement officers engaged in the act of deportation of illegal immigrants.
I do not support ICE raids that threaten to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, the vast majority of whom do not represent a threat to the U.S. The focus should always be on clear & immediate safety threats. Not others who are not threats.
Gonzalez says his department will not help ICE conduct raids on anyone accused of immigration crimes, regardless of the circumstances.
A spokesperson for ICE says they aren't raiding people simply for being undocumented - they're conducting the raids on criminal illegal aliens; people who have committed serious crimes and ignored subpoenas to immigration courts.
Every year ICE arrests over 2000 illegal immigrant murder suspects. Over the past year ICE has also made arrests for human trafficking, rape, child pornography, and even Nazi war crimes committed in the mid-20th century. ICE arrested 23 MS-13 gang members of the 4th of July weekend in Harris County.
Despite the clear need for enforcement of our immigration laws, Gonzalez remains determined not to cooperate with ICE. This is particularly problematic if you consider that Harris County is the third largest county in the country and home to a countless number of criminal illegal aliens. A sheriff who won't enforce the laws probably shouldn't be in law enforcement.