Bristol County Sheriff spearheads letter to Biden to secure border, halt illegal immigration

DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson says he is spearheading a nationwide initiative among sheriffs across America urging President Biden to secure the border and stop the mass influx of illegal immigration.

Hodgson’s push to secure the border occurred as the federal Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced it will end its relationship with the Bristol County Sheriff’s office, effectively ending ICE contracts with Bristol County.

That announcement came after Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called on the Biden administration to stop detaining immigrants at the facility. Hodgson called the drastic move “a political hit job” orchestrated by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas who is “putting his left-wing political agenda above public safety by ending the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Thursday afternoon, Hodgson said he penned a letter to the president from almost 275 of America’s Sheriffs from 39 states, representing a combined 19.82 million Americans, urging Biden to secure the border.

“President Biden is knowingly and intentionally undermining America’s Sheriffs and our collaborative efforts with our local, state and federal public safety partners to enforce the rule of law,” Sheriff Hodgson said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. “He and the policies of his administration are placing our citizens, neighborhoods and our nation in public safety and public health danger.”

He said the letter below from America’s Sheriffs was sent to President Biden electronically and via USPS:

“You must act now before our nation’s public safety resources are overwhelmed with the criminal side effects of unchecked illegal immigration, including transnational gangs, guns, dangerous drugs and human trafficking,” the sheriffs wrote. “America’s Sheriffs urge you, Mr. President, to reverse course and help us protect our communities by securing the southern border. Both the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations recognized the threats and dangers presented by illegal immigration. It is critically important that you see it as well.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW