Can you tell me what “comprehensive immigration reform” means to you?

I think immigration reform is code language for two things, “amnesty” and “we don’t know what to do with this, so we’ll call it comprehensive immigration reform.”

My suggestion is, let’s take the right to vote out and citizenship out of the equation. If you broke into this country, we may be able to sit down and have a discussion about how you can make amends for that and be a legally recognized worker, but you’ll never be a citizen and you’ll never have the right to vote.

Was there a particular moment that really got you more involved in border issues?

Really, it’s kind of the perfect storm, and I hate to capitalize on a terrible, terrible tragedy in one sense, but it was a significant event when Rob Krentz was murdered.

Right at the same time that SB 1070 was being debated, the they had an event or two down in Texas, it all sort of came together. The ACLU sued, along with MALDEF, and then, lo and behold, the Department of Justice sues. I’m still angry about it. They took it to a place that no policymaker, no one in a position of influence can run and hide.

  Tell me about your role in the National Sheriffs’ Association.

I chair the Immigration and Border Security Committee. Basically, that means any official position that National Sheriffs’ Association would take on border security- and immigration-related issues is vetted through my committee. Plus, I’m on the board of directors, where it ultimately ends up for approval.

Are you in favor of raising the number of workers allowed into this country?

Sure, if it’s necessary.

Is it necessary?

We don’t have a large population of illegal aliens here, workers or otherwise. But with all our analyses, why can’t we determine how many lettuce pickers we need, how many service industry workers we need, why can’t we figure that out and issue the appropriate number of visas?

Are you worried that witnesses and victims won’t be willing to speak to law enforcement officers if they think they’re going to be questioned about their legal status?

The “chilling effect” is what it’s called. I have yet to have anyone who promotes that theory provide substantive evidence to demonstrate it’s true. There are several things to argue against that. A, most of those people don’t report stuff now, for fear of being caught. B, we currently grant immunity to witnesses all the time in return for prosecuting a greater crime.

How do you know they’re not reporting?

Other than anecdotally – I have three kids that are law enforcement in the state. It would be fair to argue back at me that what I just told you is only theory as well, just like the chilling effect is theory.

I don’t see how you could produce substantive evidence for the “chilling effect.”

Arguing theory probably doesn’t have any place in law enforcement. I’ll have to massage that one a little bit.

You were elected chair of the Southwest Border Sheriffs' Coalition. What are your hopes for this?

We will continue to drive home the message that our nation is in peril. We share crooks, and we didn’t really have a good network for communication. This helps provide that network and increase communication.

Are going to do any PR campaigns? Do you have a website?

We don’t have any money. Another one of our missions is to try to get Congress to fund us. We have all these mounting pressures on us because of where we are, and because the federal government still hasn’t secured the border, we think we ought to be getting some financial support, collectively.

Can you tell me specifically what sorts of increased communication there are among the border counties?

We have regular phone conferences. We have twice a year conferences. We have Internet sharing of communication, and just knowing when you talk to someone on the phone or shoot them an email, who it is.

Is there any funding from anyone for the Southwest Border Sheriffs’ Coalition?

No, we don’t have an outreach there. We’ve been seeking grant funding in Congress.

Can you tell me how you got involved in bordersheriffs.com. I believe that’s the Legacy Foundation in Iowa.

I heard about the Rose Law Group and did some research on them. I sat down with Jordan Rose. They actually reached out to some people to look for a non-profit for fundraising and were referred to the Legacy Foundation in Iowa, which was looking for a cause they could take on.

Any further political ambitions?

I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been asked, “What do you have your sights set on?” I don’t have any inclinations beyond this.

It’s speculation that Rob Krentz was killed by an illegal immigrant because there’s no hard evidence for it. Is that your belief?

If you understood the circumstances, and where the shooting took place…

I understand it’s a high-traffic area.

That’s all that’s out there. Cattle, a few antelope, and human and drug smugglers. I happen to know more than I can tell. We’ve been hit with FOIA’s, but we’ve succeeded in avoiding them because it’s an ongoing investigation.

Do you have a suspect identified?

No. But even when that’s done, there’s still a long way to a successful prosecution.

Are you working with Mexican authorities?

Yep.