Immigration policy is set in Washington, not in Wasco County. But the consequences of that policy land here, in our communities, on our streets, and in our sheriff's office. As your commissioner, I have a responsibility to speak plainly about what I am seeing.

I believe in secure borders, which means that everyone inside the border is a citizen. Our country is founded on the principle of equal rights of all citizens, and we have struggled and sacrificed to make that a reality no matter one's sex, race, religion, or family origin. Societies that create first and second class citizens are inherently unfair and unstable. Immigrants seeking legal status are often the first victims of that instability — exploited precisely because they lack legal standing. That is not good for anyone.

I also believe there is a better way to secure the border. Rather than spending billions of dollars chasing people through the interior of the country, we should hire more immigration judges at ports of entry, require applicants to remain nearby while their cases are decided, and move cases to resolution in weeks rather than years. And for the many people who have been here for years contributing to our economy and our community, we should offer a practical path to citizenship — as Ronald Reagan did.

Here in Wasco County, my primary concern is public safety and the relationship between law enforcement and the community it serves. I have spoken with Sheriff McGill enough to understand the challenges he faces. Our local officers hold themselves to high standards. They build relationships, follow the procedures that protect our rights, and earn the trust of the people they serve. When outside agents operate in our jurisdiction without identifying themselves, without warrants, and without regard for the aftermath they leave behind — families left without breadwinners, vehicles abandoned in intersections — it damages those relationships and creates resentment that our local officers then have to manage.

It may surprise people to know that ICE has been around a long time because it used to make arrests quietly and carefully. ICE officers would research targets thoroughly and go to their homes early in the morning, making arrests with minimal risk to public safety. That changed. Heavily armed sweeps without warrants have done serious harm to the reputation of federal law enforcement. Worse still, ICE and Border Patrol refuse to advise local police and sheriff departments when they enter our jurisdictions. Imagine how hard it is to maintain public safety when ICE arrives by surprise with a heavy handed approach. This places an unfair burden on our officers. I fully expect Sheriff McGill will continue to neither interfere with nor participate in ICE activities while maintaining the standards of trust and accountability that make our local law enforcement effective.

I struggled to learn Spanish while living in Venezuela and, like any hard earned skill, I appreciate that it is helping me communicate now with the Latino community. They express a justified resentment that law enforcement is supposed to protect people, but they do not feel protected even if they are full citizens or legally working through the long, tedious, and expensive naturalization process. The fear that someone they love and depend on could be abducted at any time is real. They avoid public places, keep their children home from school, and stay away from work — all of which harms our community as much as it harms their families. They ask that we recognize the economic stress that ICE activity is placing on local businesses, especially in a county where migrant labor is essential to our agricultural economy. They ask for dialogue with local law enforcement to better understand what is happening. I am playing a central role in that dialogue.

My job is to represent all of Wasco County and to protect public safety. The problem we are facing was not created here — it was imposed on us from outside. My mother had a saying that applies: "The cure is worse than the disease." Undocumented immigration is a real problem that deserves a real solution. What I am seeing from ICE is not a solution. It is a disruption that damages public safety, burdens our sheriff, harms our economy, and divides our community. I will continue to respond to that reality with the facts in front of me and the interests of all Wasco County residents in mind..