St. Tammany Sheriff Candidates Put On The Spot Over ICE

All four candidates running for St. Tammany Parish Sheriff said they would enter into a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if elected.

The issue came up during WDSU reporter Sula Kim’s candidate questioning as part of a lightning round that required candidates to give direct answers on issues facing the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.

One of those questions centered on 287(g), a federal program that allows participating state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under ICE authority and supervision.

The question was simple: Would they sign a 287(g) agreement if elected sheriff?

Every candidate said yes.

That means despite the differences among the four candidates competing to become St. Tammany Parish’s next sheriff, cooperation with ICE through 287(g) was one issue on which all four agreed.

The lightning round put each candidate on the spot and gave voters a direct answer on an issue that has generated significant debate across the country.

For St. Tammany Parish voters, however, there was no disagreement among the candidates on this question.

Regardless of which of the four candidates wins, each said they would sign the agreement if elected.