Sheriffs Refuse Cooperation with Trump's Deportation Plan

Despite hopes from President-elect Trump’s advisors for cooperation from local sheriffs in border states for his mass deportation plan, many sheriffs have publicly stated their refusal to participate. Legal precedents have established that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not within the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, as explained by Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot. Furthermore, without federal funding to support such initiatives, only a small fraction of sheriff's offices have opted to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sheriffs have expressed that they are already overburdened and unwilling to take on additional responsibilities. The push for involvement from sheriffs has been spearheaded by retired sheriff Tom Mack, but many sheriffs dismiss his influence and agenda. Overall, the combination of legal constraints and lack of resources has made Trump’s deportation strategy unlikely to gain traction among local law enforcement.