40 sheriffs torch Biden-Harris’ open-border policies for unleashing crime and drugs on small-town America



A coalition of more than 40 sheriffs from 18 states released a joint letter addressed to the public on Tuesday, slamming the Biden-Harris administration’s destructive open-border policies for unleashing crime and drug surges in small-town America.

In the letter, obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, the sheriffs expressed “grave concern for the safety and security of our communities” nationwide, noting that under the current administration, “Every town is a border town.”

'The impact is broken families, lost futures, and devastated communities.'

“As sheriffs, our first duty is to protect the citizens we serve, but today, we find ourselves confronted by a growing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our country and its sovereignty: open-border policies,” they wrote.

The sheriffs blamed the administration for allowing between 10 to 15 million foreign nationals to cross the border illegally, adding that those totals are “more than the individual population of 46 states in our nation.”

By refusing to enforce the country’s existing immigration laws, the Biden-Harris administration has “allowed dangerous criminals, human traffickers, and drug cartels” to infiltrate American communities, they contended.

“The result is a flood of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, into our cities and towns. The impact is broken families, lost futures, and devastated communities,” the sheriffs continued.

The Biden administration, Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and their Democratic allies have repeatedly insisted that the only way to stop the immigration crisis is for Congress to pass more laws — specifically, the failed so-called "bipartisan" border Senate bill, the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 815.

However, the coalition of sheriffs appeared to push back on the administration’s false claims that it does not already have the authority to shut down mass illegal immigration.

“The President alone can act to fix this crisis. The president can suspend or restrict the entry of noncitizens if it is deemed in the national interest, proclaim a national emergency along the border, and redirect federal funds to construct a border wall. The Biden-Harris Administration has done none of these. And we are seeing the consequences,” they wrote.

Sheriffs Rich Stanek of Hennepin County, Minnesota; Chad Leonard of Dallas County, Iowa; Adam Infante of Dallas County, Iowa; and Mark Lamb of Pinal County, Arizona, were among those who signed the letter.

Sheriff James Custer of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, another signatory, told the DCNF about how the fentanyl crisis has impacted his community.

“I’ve seen this trend has been going on over the last three years, the fentanyl crisis, that has come across our southern border. ... Our overdose deaths rose each year,” Custer stated. “Now we are in a slight decline this year, but we have several deaths pending toxicology results.”

Sheriff Bob Songer of Klickitat County, Washington, who also signed the sheriffs’ letter, told the DCNF, “Personally, I think both the Biden administration and their administrative staff ought to be charged with treason, they’ve broken this country to where we don’t have a border.”

The Biden-Harris administration and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.

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California sheriff fights back against judge's order to release half of Orange County's inmates: 'The public should be in a panic'



An Orange County, California, judge ordered the sheriff to release half of the county's jail population in order to protect inmates from the coronavirus during a recent outbreak.

The sheriff responded by taking a stand against the judge's order and declaring that he has no intention of following the decree.

What happened?

Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson ruled Friday that the county must release half of its 3,716 inmates so that convicts can abide by COVID-19 protocols, including properly socially distancing, KCBS-TV reported Monday.

Wilson sided with the American Civil Liberties Union in its lawsuit against the sheriff's office over concerns that Orange County inmates could spread COVID-19 in their "congregated living areas."

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said he has no plans to release another 1,858 known criminals into the general populace and put citizens' safety at risk.

"These aren't low-lying offenders," Barnes told KCBS. "These are people in for very serious offenses, like murder, attempted murder, and domestic violence.

"The public should be in a panic, and they should be concerned about this release," the sheriff added.

Barnes is appealing the judge's order out of concerns for public safety.

About 700 inmates fall into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's classification of "medically vulnerable," KCBS reported.

The sheriff told the outlet that of those 700, "there are 59 of them in for murder, another 39 for attempted murder, 90 of them for child molestation and a litany of other violent crimes."

What did the sheriff do?

Judge Wilson gave Barnes a New Year's Eve deadline to submit a list of inmates who will be released, but Barnes told KCBS he has no intention of following that order. Barnes believes that every inmate in the Orange County jail should remain behind bars, the station reported.

The sheriff put the onus back on Wilson, saying that if the judge wants to put the public at risk, then he will have to come up with his own list.

"If this judge is going to order the release of people entrusted in my care who I believe present a significant threat to the public, he will have to identify each one of those by name and order their release pursuant to his authority, not mine," Barnes said.

KCBS noted that as of Monday there were 416 positive tests in the Orange County Jail.

Staten Island bar co-owner who defied lockdown order allegedly hits sheriff's deputy with car, gets arrested again



The co-owner of Mac's Public House — the Staten Island bar that has gained national attention for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders — was arrested over the weekend for allegedly hitting a New York City sheriff's deputy with his car, KABC-TV reported.

What are the details?

Two deputies followed Danny Presti to his vehicle after he left the bar — which had welcomed customers once again — shortly after midnight Sunday, officials told the station.

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

The deputies identified themselves, approached Presti, and tried to arrest him for multiple offenses, KABC said, adding that Presti began to flee on foot toward his vehicle. The pursuing officers ordered him to stop, the station said, but Presti entered his car.

Officials said Presti allegedly drove into one of the deputies, who was thrown upon the hood of the vehicle, KABC said, adding that Presti drove about 100 yards with the injured officer clinging to the hood until deputies eventually brought the vehicle to a stop.

KABC said the incident was caught on surveillance video.

What happened to Presti?

Presti was arraigned Sunday on multiple charges — including felony assault — and was released from police custody, the station said. Presti's attorney Lou Gelormino told WABC his client spent the night in jail.

It was the second time Presti was arrested in less than a week, as sheriff's deputies raided Mac's Public House last Tuesday night and led Presti away in handcuffs for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders.

Presti on Monday said he's stepping back for a couple of days out of respect for law and order, the station said — but he and Gelormino maintained his innocence.

"Two big, burly officers came out from in between a parked car, behind him, and yelled, 'Presti! Hey, Presti!' and started running at him," Gelormino said Monday, according to WABC. "That's what started the whole turn of events. It wasn't two officers in uniform, waving badges, saying, 'Hey, can we talk to you?' That's what started the whole event."

Presti also made a statement Monday, the station said: "I have nothing but respect for the NYPD and other law enforcement. I think when you find at the end of the investigation, you will find that I did nothing wrong."

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

What happened to the sheriff's deputy?

The injured deputy was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, WABC said. A station reporter said during the broadcast that the deputy broke bones in his leg as a result of the incident — but that Presti denies that and insists the deputy only twisted his ankle — and that there's video to prove it.

More from WABC:

Officers made the arrest after conducting surveillance on the bar, which had violated COVID restrictions multiple times.

Officials say officers saw a woman standing in front of the pub who would guide people into the neighboring commercial space.

They were able to observe people enter the space and then disappear into a back room.

Those who were visible through the windows appeared to be drinking alcoholic beverages.

Around 10 p.m., officers saw about 20 people exit the neighboring space, followed by another 10 people.

Gelormino told the station the bar's tables were six feet apart Saturday night, including on the patio in the back, and that all social distancing rules were being followed.

Presti prior to his arrest told KABC that "we're struggling, and a lot of people in these businesses have lost a lot, and in the beginning, we were OK to sacrifice, and we've sacrificed everything at this point. You have to take care of us, the government is supposed to be there to protect you, and that's the opposite of what's happening here."

What did NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio have to say?

"I think his actions are extraordinarily disturbing, I think they are disgusting, I think there's no excuse for someone doing something that might threaten a law enforcement officer, that's what he did," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said about the incident, the station reported. "Our sheriff's deputy, his life was in danger because of what this guy did. It's absolutely unacceptable, he should pay very very serious consequences for what he did. I am always concerned we have to make sure consequences are clear. So I respect that the law enforcement system has a way of determining who can get released and who doesn't. But what I care about the most here, is that it be very clear, there are serious serious charges, and this guy did something extremely dangerous, and he needs to suffer the appropriate consequences for what he did."

What did New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have to say?

"A couple of primary New York values: One of them was, you don't assault a police officer. They are defending a person who drove his car into a law enforcement officer, drove 100 yards with a law enforcement officer clinging to the hood for his life, and that's who they are championing ... Someone who attacked a law enforcement officer," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, according to WABC. "You don't attack the NYPD. You don't do it. They put their life on the line. You don't attack a law enforcement officer who is doing his or her job. And when you have someone who drives their car into someone, could have killed him, hospitalizes him — how dare you? What signal are you sending when you glamorize that type of behavior? ... It's repugnant to the values of any real New Yorker. You never assault a police officer."

Anything else?

After Presti's first arrest Tuesday a large group of protesters hit the street in front of Mac's Public House Wednesday night to show their support for the bar.

And WABC reported that yet another protest is planned for Monday.

CBS News said Staten Island is home to many police officers and firefighters and is usually seen as supportive of law enforcement. The network added that the New York City borough is much more conservative than the rest of the city and is the only one of the Big Apple's five boroughs that voted for President Donald Trump in November.

Sheriffs say they won't enforce far-left California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new lockdown order



With a new lockdown order looming in California over a reported spike in COVID-19 cases and hospital beds filling up, the state's far-left Gov. Gavin Newsom won't be getting much help enforcing his new restrictions from Southern California sheriffs.

What are the details?

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told KTTV-TV he won't be enforcing Newsom's order on businesses, many of which will be forced to close when ICU bed capacity hits a certain threshold. The governor's new order officially goes into effect at 1 p.m. Saturday, the station said.

Villanueva added to the station that business enforcement is the health department's job.

"I want to stay away from businesses that are trying to comply the best they can," he said.

"They bent over backwards to modify their entire operation to conform to these current health orders, and then they have the rug yanked out from under them — that's a disservice," he also told KTTV. "I don't want to make their lives any more miserable."

Villanueva also told the station there was no coordination regarding the new order — and he actually learned about it from Newsom's news conference.

"Anything that has to do with enforcement, you've got to make sure you're working in partnership with all the people carrying out the enforcement," Villanueva said.

But Newsom also is threatening to pull pandemic relief funds from counties refusing to comply with his new orders, the station added.

"If you're unwilling to enforce the rules, if you're unwilling to adopt the protocols to support the mitigation and the reduction and spread of this disease, we're happy to redirect those dollars to counties that feel differently," Newsom noted, according to KTTV. "That's exactly what we've done."

What did other sheriffs have to say?

Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayum issued a statement to the station regarding Newsom's order: "Our approach to enforcement of the continuously evolving health orders has not changed from the onset of the pandemic. Our approach is one of educating the public of the health orders and encouraging compliance with them. Enforcement has always been an option for our staff to use with considerable discretion. However, our primary goal is to seek voluntary compliance whenever possible."

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department offered a statement to KTTV saying its deputies won't respond to calls regarding Newsom's new order: "As has been the case since we were initially faced with the difficulties of living and working through this pandemic together, our goal is to educate and gain voluntary compliance regarding Public Health orders. We will continue to partner with our communities and deliver the law enforcement services they deserve while keeping health and safety of our staff and those we serve as a top priority."

The station said sheriffs from Orange and Riverside counties pointed to their previous statements about refusing to enforce the governor's curfew order.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo: It's 'frightening to me' that 'arrogant' sheriffs won't enforce my COVID restrictions over Thanksgiving



New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ripped sheriffs in the state who've recently declared they won't be enforcing Cuomo's COVID-19 restrictions over Thanksgiving — particularly the one that bans gatherings of more than 10 people.

"I don't believe as a law enforcement officer you have a right to pick and choose what laws you will enforce," Cuomo said Wednesday during an Albany news conference.

What's the background?

Cuomo announced new restrictions last week in response to the COVID-19 surge, saying gatherings in the state would be limited to just 10 people, including at private residences.

"New York follows the science," the far-left Democrat said of his decision. "We know indoor gatherings and parties are a major source of COVID spread. To slow the spread, NYS will limit indoor gatherings at private residences to 10 people. This limit takes effect Friday at 10 p.m."

But Cuomo didn't say how the new restrictions would be enforced and left those decisions up to local authorities — after which Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino said he wouldn't be doing any cracking down.

"With regard to the Thanksgiving Executive Order, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office will NOT be enforcing it against our County residents," Giardino wrote in a Facebook post.

Then Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said there won't be any Thanksgiving enforcement of Cuomo's restrictions, the New York Post reported, adding that Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said Monday that goes for his jurisdiction as well.

"I can't see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens' driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they've purchased is for the public good," Zurlo said in a news release, according to the paper.

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard said his office would also ignore the indoor gathering limit, the Post reported.

The governor fires back

Cuomo told reporters Wednesday that an executive order "is a law" and that the issue "has been litigated."

He then spoke as if he was a sheriff defying his COVID-19 restrictions: "Well, I don't believe in that law, and therefore I won't enforce it."

Cuomo, speaking as himself, said such an attitude "is, frankly, frightening to me as an individual, frightening to democracy. It's arrogant, and it violates your constitutional duty."

He added that the opinion of an officer about a law "doesn't matter" and that such agents have sworn to "enforce the laws."

Cuomo also spoke as if he was an officer who doesn't want to enforce domestic violence statutes: "That's a family affair. They had a family fight, and I don't think it's the state's right to come in and say you shouldn't treat your wife that way, you shouldn't treat your husband that way."

"No," Cuomo said, responding to his own scenario. "There's a law, and you have to enforce the law, or don't call yourself a law enforcement officer."

Video: Cuomo: It's not up to sheriffs to pick and choose on law enforcement youtu.be

Anything else?

Cuomo's new COVID-19 restrictions have also irked politicians in the state, including Staten Island Republican City Councilman Joe Borelli, who tweeted last week he's planning on having a party with over 10 guests — daring a crackdown, the New York Post reported.

When pressed on how his restrictions could be enforced, Cuomo acknowledged that it's largely an honor system, the Albany Times Union reported.

"Nobody is saying knock on doors and count heads," he added, according to the Times Union. "But you come across a gathering for one reason or another and there's 20 people there, you say, 'This can't happen.'"

A Cuomo spokesman later clarified that Cuomo isn't encouraging police to make arrests but to take steps to ensure that illegal gatherings are broken up, the Times Union added.

Three more NY sheriffs tell Gov. Andrew Cuomo to get stuffed over his Thanksgiving COVID-19 ban



Another three sheriffs from upstate New York said they won't be enforcing far-left Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Thanksgiving coronavirus restrictions on gatherings in private residences, the New York Post reported.

What's the background?

Cuomo announced new restrictions last week in response to the COVID-19 surge, saying gatherings in the state would be limited to just 10 people, including at private residences.

"New York follows the science," Cuomo said of his decision. "We know indoor gatherings and parties are a major source of COVID spread. To slow the spread, NYS will limit indoor gatherings at private residences to 10 people. This limit takes effect Friday at 10 p.m."

But Cuomo didn't say how the new restrictions would be enforced, leaving those decisions up to local authorities — and Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino apparently took the Democrat at his word.

"With regard to the Thanksgiving Executive Order, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office will NOT be enforcing it against our County residents," Giardino wrote in a Facebook post.

"Frankly, I am not sure it could sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court for several reasons including your house is your castle. And as a Sheriff with a law degree I couldn't in good faith attempt to defend it Court, so I won't," the sheriff added. "Who and how many people you invite in to your home is your business, unlike outdoor gatherings which may receive a police response if disorderly or other violations of public nuisance laws occur."

Giardino later added that he trusts his residents to use their best judgment while still urging them to take precautions when around those who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Three more sheriffs enter the fray

And now joining Giardino is Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy who said there won't be any Thanksgiving enforcement of Cuomo's restrictions, the Post reported, adding that Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said Monday that goes for his jurisdiction as well.

"I can't see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens' driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they've purchased is for the public good," Zurlo said in a news release, according to the paper.

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard said his office would also ignore the indoor gathering limit, the Post reported.

Giardino also said in an interview with the Albany Times Union that Cuomo is "scaring the hell out of people."

"People have common sense. They are not going to jeopardize family members. They are not going to jeopardize close friends. Most people respect the masks," Giardino added to the Times Union. "Basically, as a lawyer, former DA and judge, if I got brought into court, I can't justify it constitutionally. The threat is not so great that we should be limiting who they can have for Thanksgiving."

What did a Cuomo adviser have to say?

Cuomo adviser Richard Azzopardi reacted by saying, "We urge everyone to continue to be smart and act responsibly. We know this makes people unhappy, but better unhappy than sick or worse," the Post reported.