A Texas sheriff who refused to work with state law enforcement to criminally charge illegal immigrants admitted this week that he will begin prosecuting migrants because of rising crime in his community.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, who had resisted working with state law enforcement to refer illegal immigrants for prosecution, said he was forced to change his mind because illegal immigrants started “breaking in” homes, “damaging, taking things.”
“I started getting calls from ranchers about all the damage they were doing — calls from neighborhoods close to the city about breaking in, taking things,” he said, according to the Washington Examiner. “I didn’t see migrants coming in [to Maverick County] and just moving on.”
In one recent incident, a Honduran immigrant broke into the home of a 73-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her, he said.
Schmerber said he has agreed to partner with the state and turn over those who trespass after they have illegally crossed into the country from Mexico.
“If somebody goes onto a ranch and they jump the fence, that’s going to be a state charge now because of trespassing,” he explained. “If they go into a house, they’re going to have another charge for breaking into private property.”
In return, Maverick County will receive $1.6 million from the state to cover additional border security-related costs. Schmerber said he plans to spend the money hiring more deputies, vehicles, and equipment.
Texas officials have reported a sharp increase in border crossings over the past few weeks after news broke that the Biden administration intended to reimplement former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy.
“Over 3,500 encountered since Friday!” Del Rio, Texas Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “Undocumented migrants continue to enter illegally throughout our area of responsibility…and in large numbers! In one event, nearly 200 crossed together and were arrested in Eagle Pass this weekend. The numbers we have in custody continue to increase.”
