The debate surrounding the collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE continues to stir emotions among communities in El Paso County. Protests outside the office of El Paso County Sheriff Joseph J. Roybal have become a common sight, with demonstrators voicing concerns about the implications of such partnerships on undocumented immigrants. Despite the outcry, Sheriff Roybal stands firm on the collaboration’s merits, focusing particularly on public safety enhancement. According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Roybal laid out his justification for working with ICE, especially when criminal activities are at play.
Roybal emphasizes that his office's cooperative efforts with ICE are strictly limited to criminal matters. "Our focus is on criminals," Sheriff Roybal assures, as his office regularly publishes a list of arrested individuals and the crimes they have been accused of committing, which also includes individuals handed over to ICE. Designed to combat misinformation, this practice aims to clarify the kind of cases that prompt ICE involvement. According to Roybal, this collaboration is critical in rooting out the threats posed by drug cartels and human traffickers that exploit vulnerable sections of the community, especially undocumented immigrants who, in the shadow of sanctuary policies, find themselves enmeshed in violent and exploitative situations.
Contrary to the propositions of protestors, Roybal claims his stance is backed by the community's various stakeholders. Recently, Sheriff Roybal met with local Latino leaders, clergy, and business owners who, in his words, agree that the fears associated with law enforcement and ICE are based more on rumors than reality. "Our community’s safety depends on truth, trust, and accountability," he reiterated, as per the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, calling out those who propagate falsehoods for endangering the very people they claim to protect. The sheriff’s article highlights his mission of ensuring the safety of all community members, regardless of their immigration status, and calls for the community to discard fear and misinformation in favor of truth and justice.
