Butler sheriff asks ICE boss to send agents here
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones in June said he has “encouraged” the federal government to raid county businesses who employ undocumented immigrants.
On Monday, the outspoken sheriff personally asked Ronald Vitiello, the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to send immigration agents to Butler County.
“It was well worth me coming up here, and to be able to meet with the sheriffs who have the same issues,” said Jones, who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Monday after being invited to attend President Donald Trump’s “Salute to the Heroes of ICE and CBP (Customs and Border Protection).”
“But to be able to talk with the acting director of ICE, you can’t do that on the phone,” he said.
While he met with the acting director of ICE, Jones said he did not personally meet with Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom attended the salute that also featured a panel discussion that included Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Cochise County (Ariz.) Sheriff Mark Dannels, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., and Vitiello.
Jones has been a loud and national voice concerning border security and illegal immigration and has sent the president of Mexico and the federal government bills for costs the county has incurred dealing with undocumented immigrants. He also has a federal contract with ICE to house illegal immigrants for deportation at the Butler County Jail.
The sheriff was one of a few guests able to talk privately with panelists about border security and immigration issues, he said.
While Jones wouldn’t talk specifics about his conversation with Vitiello on Monday afternoon, he said, “I was basically talking about workplace enforcement.”
When asked if he told the acting director he wanted ICE to come to Butler County to raid businesses suspected of employing illegal immigrants, Jones said, “That’s correct. I want them to come and enforce workplace enforcement.”