RESOLUTION 2022 - 01
ARIZONA SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION EXPRESSES
NO CONFIDENCE IN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS
WHEREAS; the Arizona Sheriffs Association (ASA) is an organization comprised of elected county sheriffs who have sworn to maintain the public trust through open, honest, and ethical administration of their respective offices and exercising integrity and professionalism in the use of their constitutional powers and authority; and
WHEREAS; Arizona’s Sheriffs work together with our federal partners to secure our communities and country amidst the ongoing crisis at the border. Over the past 12 months we have witnessed the continued breach of the border by illegal immigrants who seek to find refuge in the United States. Many are hoping to reach our homeland in search of a life of freedom. Yet, many will come here with a debt owed to the transnational criminal cartels of Mexico and South America. For some, reaching the United States marks the beginning of years of drug distribution, modern-day slavery, and sex trafficking to pay back the criminal cartels for the privilege of being smuggled into the United States; and
WHEREAS; this is not a new phenomenon. This has been occurring for decades. This is the reason our dedicated officers and agents from Customs and Border Patrol and our nation's Sheriffs are coming together to share a common mission to secure our borders and communities. A collective effort to deter the northward flow of illegal immigrants and drugs continues to be a priority for these law enforcement professionals. Over the last year, the problem at our southern border has continued to get worse with an increase in illicit smuggling and criminal violence challenging every community within our nation; and
WHEREAS; today, we are witnessing a complete and total breakdown of policies compared to past years including over a 379% increase of border encounters compared to the previous fiscal year. The getaway numbers are staggering and result in dangerous criminals flowing into our communities leaving innocent Americans vulnerable; and
WHEREAS; Vice President, Kamala Harris was appointed and sworn into her position under oath to protect the rule of law and Americans. As our nation's Vice President, she is responsible for carrying out those public safety responsibilities delegated to the United States. Since her appointment, we have seen her policies enacted that only serve to dismantle the security of our country and the enforcement efforts of the hard-working federal officers assigned to an extremely difficult task; and
WHEREAS; Arizona's Sheriffs have watched in disbelief as the southern border has turned into an invisible line in the sand. Border Patrol agents have been relegated to daycare supervisors at housing units and when they do attempt to act, they are scrutinized, placed on administrative leave, and investigated for political gain. The tragedy of an invisible border is being realized across the United States as massive amounts of drugs are moving across interstate highways and small rural roads throughout the nation. American citizens continue to die from overdoses in this country at an alarming rate every day. Current statistics show that more people have died in the United States from fentanyl overdoses than from COVID in the past 20 months. Fentanyl is coming across our southern border and into the interior of the United States at an alarming and unacceptable rate. Violent crime is increasing throughout the United States and examples of the atrocities carried out by illegal immigrants are beginning to surface in the media.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; after witnessing this disaster over the past year and listening to the continued rhetoric and intellectual dishonesty from Vice President Harris, the Arizona Sheriff’s Association, must emphatically state our position of having no confidence in the ability of Vice President Kamala Harris, and her leadership within the office of Vice President, to affect any positive outcome on this matter.
FURTHERMORE; we call on President Joe Biden to take the appropriate steps to remove Vice President Kamala Harris from her leadership position and appoint a new leader who can recognize, respect, and enforce the rule of law for the safety and security of our nation along its borders. We demand, and America deserves, a leader who will work collectively with our nation's Sheriffs and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to regain control of our nation's southern border. Finally, a decision to make this change must come immediately. If there is a legitimate "matter of national security" for this nation, at this time, this is it. Arizona’s Sheriffs, and specifically our border Sheriffs, stand united and ready to work with our federal administration to restore security and safety on our nation's southern border.
Signed the 29th day of April 2022
