The Arizona Sheriffs Association (ASA) supports U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the agency enforces our nation’s immigration laws and assists in eliminating our country’s security vulnerabilities. Whether it’s combatting human trafficking or accounting for those seeking opportunity in our country, ICE is a vital agency for the security of our communities.
ICE officers and staff perform a critical function in implementing policies that account for people entering and exiting our country. The agency’s terrorism prevention activities and investigations into the illegal movement of goods and people serve as a crucial supplement to the law enforcement service we provide to the community. We simply could not perform our duty without them. Calls from candidates and interest groups to abolish the agency would not promote better immigration policy and would only make the work of our deputies more difficult.
The ASA recognizes there are different approaches to immigration policy. Our main priority is the public safety of our communities and enforcing the laws we swear to uphold as the chief law enforcement officers of our counties. The ASA is open to dialogue, but our duty is to the security of our citizens and residents as law enforcement officers first. Thus, we find it reckless that the proponents of abolishing ICE claim it is an agency that only brings harm and suffering. We witness the good these agents do every day to strengthen our country’s security. It is simply irresponsible to call for the abolition of an agency that enforces our laws against bad actors who would corrupt the integrity of our communities.
We recognize reasonable minds disagree. If the proponents of abolishing ICE desire a constructive conversation that includes practical solutions to fix our immigration system, the ASA is all ears. Our deputies routinely witness the impact of our broken immigration system. We may not always agree on solutions but we always listen as public servants. Make no mistake though - the ASA will strongly oppose radical efforts calling for the abolition of an agency that’s critical to America’s public safety and national security. We thank the officers serving ICE for their service. The ASA remains open to considering clear-headed policy solutions on immigration that strengthen our communities and keep our citizens and residents safe. Our constituents, the voters, expect nothing less from us.
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