(8-31-18) Berrien County  Sheriff Paul Bailey will be in Washington DC on Wednesday, Sept. 5, to meet with White House officials on illegal immigration matters, and to urge Congress to act on pending legislation to increase border security.

Sheriff Bailey will join almost 50 other Sheriffs from across the country as a united group of elected law enforcement officers at a media event on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning. Joined by some members of Congress, this group or Sheriffs will share their experiences and public safety challenges associated with illegal aliens, and call on Congress to act on pending legislation to increase border security and reform the immigration system.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriffs will participate in a roundtable discussion at the White House with administration officials and policymakers. Hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the round table will focus on immigration, border security and efforts by some elected officials to prevent the critical collaboration of local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. These partnerships maximize law enforcement’s potential to identify criminals in communities and remove them from neighborhoods.

Sheriff Bailey said:

“The purpose of this visit is to express the urgency of Congress passing legislation immediately on the security aspects of immigration reform. It is our intention to tell Congress that their failure to deal with this issue for 20 years has made our communities less safe and has undermined our promise to the people who elected us to keep them safe.

“During our visit to the White House, we will discuss the challenges we face as a result of the ongoing Congressional stalemate, strategies to more easily identify criminal illegal aliens, and explore ways to expand and protect our valuable and critically important relationships with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. We will also take the opportunity to express and thank President Trump and his administration for re-establishing law enforcement’s footing to enforce our laws.

“America’s Sheriffs are elected by the people in their communities to keep them safe, and the continued inaction of Congress has put a major roadblock in law enforcement’s path to protecting our citizens and legal residents. It is our sworn duty to protect our citizens, and we, as Sheriffs, view this opportunity to push for meaningful immigration reform as a way to uphold our promise, our commitment, to the people who elected us to protect them.”

Sheriff Bailey Schedule for Wednesday, Sept. 5, in Washington D.C.

Press Conference on Capitol Hill

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Press triangle outside the Capitol

What: Sheriff Bailey will join 44 other Sheriffs from across the country as one united group of law enforcement officials speaking out about the dangers criminal illegal aliens bring to our communities, and urge Congress to act on much-needed reforms.

Roundtable discussion at the White House

When: 3 p.m.

Where: White House

What: Sheriff Bailey will participate in a roundtable discussion with other Sheriffs and White House officials on immigration, border security and safe communities.