Santa Cruz sheriff says he's leaving immigration law to the feds

NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN) – Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway said he would have preferred to see Congress pass immigration reform, but President Biden had to resort to an executive order. place.

The sheriff says immigrants don't come here to become criminals, but to work in the United States. He thinks there should be a guest worker program to allow them to work legally.

On a related border issue, he is not happy that Arizona lawmakers have placed on the November ballot a question that would allow voters to cross the border illegally, in violation of state law, and request local sheriffs and police to enforce this law.

He says, “Santa Cruz County is the smallest county in Arizona. We work on the basics of law enforcement, violent crime and property crime. Federal agents in my area outnumber us 30 to one. There are 30 federal agents for every one local agent, so it makes no sense to try to make us take on a federal role. In a city that is already 95% Hispanic, I don't want to chase people who look Hispanic to ask for their ID.

Crossing the border illegally is already a violation of federal law.

Sheriff Hathaway says if voters approve a state law on illegal border crossings, he won't enforce it. He says he's not worried about whether it could land him a prosecution or reduce state penalties.