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 about new immigration policies. During the panel, Smith told the public he would not go into communities to look for people who are living in the country illegally.
Smith said the forum came about after Hispanic employees working for the sheriff’s office advised Smith that people living in the U.S. without legal permission 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, Border Czar Tom Homan and President Donald Trump.
“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.”
In the letter, Smith said he “100% support(s) the arrests and deportations of violent criminals who threaten the safety and security of the community.”
The sheriff said he supports the 287g program. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287g program is an immigration deportation program with coordinated efforts between local law enforcement and the federal government.
“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.”
