SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – An East Texas sheriff has apologized after holding an immigration panel where he attempted to ease concerns within the Hispanic community.
Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, alongside five other East Texas sheriffs, held an immigration Q&A panel on Feb. 7 to ease concerns of new immigration policies. During the panel, Smith told the public he would not go into communities to look for people who are in the country illegally.
Smith said the forum came about after Hispanic employees working for the sheriff’s office advised Smith that many undocumented immigrants were afraid to send their children to school, attend church, go to work and report violent crimes.
Now, Smith is apologizing for holding the panel.
“I am but a mortal human being who strives to always do what is right. That does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that I am exempt from making mistakes. In a rush to try to make matters better, unfortunately I made some of those matters worse,” Smith said.
He apologized to Smith county residents, Gov. Greg Abbott and his office, President Donald Trump and his “border czar,” Tom Homan.
“I have the utmost respect for Gov. Abbott and also for the sincere willingness and abilities of Gov. Abbott, Mr. Homan and President Trump to correct the many deficiencies in our immigration process,” the sheriff said. “I appreciate the tireless efforts they make to correct the many wrongs that have taken place in this arena and their many efforts to correct them.”
Smith reiterated that he supports the arrests and deportations of these violent criminals who threaten the safety and security of the community. The sheriff also said he supports the 287g program.
“This is a very important and much needed program in order to curtail illegal immigration to our communities,” the sheriff said. “Unfortunately, the 287g task force model of this program has not been reinstated since December 2012.”
Once it has been reinstated, Smith reassured the sheriff’s office will participate in assisting ICE with the deportation of “criminal illegal aliens.”
Since 2013, Smith County has been a part of ICE’s 287g program where their deputies contact ICE and after the crime they are arrested for is satisfied, then ICE has 48 hours to pick them up. If ICE has not picked the individual up after 48 hours, they are free to be released back into the community.
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