Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson
BBC aired a special featuring Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson discussing Immigration and Customs Enforcement leading arrests in Pacific County.
"We are seeing people picked up and deported for reasons that I don't really see as logical," Sheriff Johnson tells us. "It's one thing to come and arrest someone who is a violent criminal, but to arrest and detain someone who works hard and is an asset to our communities is very different."
ICE arrests are on the rise, happening all over the country leaving people in complete fear of even going to renew their licenses or go to work. With widespread media coverage covering the parameters for which people are being deported, citizens are beginning to question the logic of ICE officials.
"Right now people are getting to the point they are afraid to call us," Sheriff Johnson tell us. "I really want people to know that we aren't a part of ICE or working with them to arrest and deport. If they had a serious incident requiring backup we would respond, but we are not taking part in their arrest for deportation. It's not what we do."
Sheriff Johnson shared some prior history with us about the Sheriff's Departments prior relationship with ICE. "They used to show up with a van or bus when we had individuals, who we had arrested that were criminals and would deport them. That doesn't really happen anymore."
After being featured on the show Johnson has begun receiving letters and phone calls about his opinion he's expressed. He told us, "right here actually I have a letter I just received from someone in California thanking me for standing up and showing the courage for what is right and wrong and I've got a voicemail from another gentleman I still need to respond to."
The Sheriff's department has even had ICE attempt to deport one of their valued personnel who works for the surf rescue team in Long Beach. "The member is a valued asset to us and in fact was popular all over the world for a rescue he performed," Johnson tells us. "You can still find the photo of him walking out of the surf with the child in his hands, who he saved."