Mr. Cryer Goes to Washinton

Last week, Marshall County Sheriff Danny Cryer was among a group of 191 sheriffs who were invited to the White House and Capitol Hill for a series of events dubbed Badges and Angels.

Other area sheriffs at the event were Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian, Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner and Love County Sheriff Marty Grisham.

The gathering was organized by the Federation for American Immigration Reform or FAIR, said Cryer.

“It was a very interesting trip,” Cryer said. “We got to hear the personal stances of administration offices on matters of policy. I was very impressed with the way our government is being run.”

Jonathan Darling, the public information officer, for the Bristol County Sheriff, said his county’s sheriff, Tom Hodgson, worked with FAIR this year and in 2018 to get sheriffs from across the United States to visit the nation’s capitol.

“Last year, there were 40 sheriffs,” he said. “This year a lot of state sheriffs’ associations were called. It was great to see so many sheriffs there.”

Darling said FAIR paid for the travel and lodging for all 191 participants.

Cryer verified that FAIR, and not Marshall County taxpayers, covered the cost of his trip.

Cryer said the purpose of the trip was to support President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

“We were hooked up with some Angel families whose lives have been impacted by crimes committed by illegal immigrants,” he said. “I learned that a lot of the Angel families are legal immigrants.”

In a statement to WBSM, a local radio station in New Bedford, Mass., Bristol County, Mass. Sheriff Tom Hodgson said called Badges and Angels is intended to deliver a message to Congress that “enough is enough” when it comes inaction on immigration.

“It’s the coming together of nearly 200 sheriffs from across the country, about 80 angel families – those are people who have lost loved ones at the hands of criminal illegal aliens, all of us who have been talking to Congress for nearly 20 years, telling them that things are getting worse and worse. Drugs are being poured into the community, more and more of our family members are being killed by people who are coming here illegally, and you continue to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear,” said Hodgson.

According to an article on WBSM’s website, the rally Hodgson referred to was set for the morning of Sept. 25 on the front side of the U.S. Capitol building. As of press time, it is unclear how many people attended the rally.

Immigration policy does impact Marshall County, Cryer said. He said many of the sheriffs he met are from states where either governors or mayors are not enforcing federal immigration law.

“The difference for us is versus sanctuary cities,” Cryer said. “If ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] puts a detainer on someone, we hold them for ICE. We’re not being forced to go against federal law.”

The group attended a short ceremony on the southern lawn of the White House on Sept. 26 to meet President Donald Trump and give him an award.

Hodgson presented the award to President Trump.

“I know I speak for these sheriffs and American sheriffs across the country that you’ve done more in two years than the past administrations and Congress has done for 20 years, Mr. President,” Hodgson told the president.

Hodgson later added, “On behalf of America’s sheriffs, we’re presenting to President Donald J. Trump, in appreciation for your strong leadership, unwavering efforts to stop illegal immigration and the burden it places on our citizens, families, neighborhoods, and our nation, America’s sheriffs and the Angel families of America salute you, sir.

Trump shared his appreciation with the sheriffs.

“Thank you very much,” he said. “Really importantly, Sheriff, on behalf of the other sheriffs and everybody here at law enforcement said that we’ve done more in the last two and half years for safety and security than the last 20 years’ worth of administrations. And I’ll tell you, that’s an honor. And I’m a big fan of the people alongside of me. I’m a big fan. And I want to thank you (inaudible) and thank everybody.”