Enforcement meeting shows bit of hypocrisy

Curiosity got the best of me. I had to go to the recent 287g steering committee meeting at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. I was not disappointed. The majority was by far against 287g. And those who were able to speak during the one-hour session were often angry and belligerent. Kudos to Sheriff Holloway for showing up and taking the abuse, as many of the comments were made directly at him.

Much was made about the low participation rate by counties nationwide, and why was Washington and Benton counties the only two counties in Arkansas participating? I think the answer is obvious: It takes space and personnel to implement, and most places don’t have the concentration of illegal immigrants that the poultry industry and booming construction in Northwest Arkansas draws. Argue what you will, that presence has created a strain on our criminal justice system. No one’s immigration status is checked unless they are booked into a county jail. That’s a serious threshold; most of us live our entire lives without going to jail.

Those protesting claim the program is separating families and that’s true. If you support the program you are viewed as cruel and heartless; that is not true. The same goes for separating children from their mothers at the border. Maybe we should use some common sense and agree that no one wants a child separated from his parents, no one. Our differences in opinion arise when we choose who is at fault. Many scream “Trump.” Truth is families were separated during previous administrations, just not in as large of numbers. Same thing for the tear gas. Border agents used tear gas on average of once a month during the Obama years. Never a thing said. And last week it was blamed on the local sheriffs and the 287g program, described as bad law.

Nobody wants to blame the obvious offender. Not a mention made. Not one.

Let me say I love children of all flavors. My grandchildren are prayed for every day. And I can get angry over the pain these children have to endure. It is uncalled for. I am angry at the parents. They made the decision to enter this country illegally or overstayed their visa. They had to know if they were caught they would be deported. They obviously are adults. They brought children into this world and they alone are responsible to provide a safe environment for them to grow up in. Ironically, 200 yards away from the meeting were hundreds of prisoners in the county jail. They, too, were separated from their families when they were incarcerated for breaking a law. No one was an advocate for their release. Not one utterance.

When an older man stood up and asked “Ts not anyone going to speak in favor of the program? Because I support it,” the crown shouted him down saying “sign the list,” meaning sign up and wait your turn. Funny, if the people they were here to support had done that, we wouldn’t have an illegal immigration problem. #Hypocrisy? G.W. WEEKS Centerton