NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
INTERMEDIATE: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman disputed Gov’s comments. Andy Beshear on “The View” about getting ICE out of “every city,” setting up what could be an uphill battle between governments and federal immigration authorities.
“All ICE agents must be withdrawn from every city and every community they are in. This agency must be changed from top to bottom. Secretary Noem needs to be fired, and all agents must be retrained,” Beshear told the ABC talk show, before adding “the American population” should lead to a “temporary suspension.” [to] send everyone back.”
Coleman, who spoke to Fox News Digital at the sheriff’s office in Daviess County — home of NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and one of the few Kentucky jurisdictions working with ICE — said his take is “non-political” and that ICE also has the support of law enforcement he met after the interview.
“My opinion as the chief legal officer of this organization, the person who carries the badge and the gun, the person who has been the prosecutor of the organization, [is] that statement made by the governor was absurd,” said Coleman.
TOM HOMAN VOWS TO WORK ON DEM VA GOV SPANBERGER’S NEW ORDER ENDING ICE OPERATIONS
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, left; Gov. Andy Beshear, okay. (Marcus Dorsey/Getty Images; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Coleman said the dispute centered on Beshear’s “remarks” versus the reality of which entities he controls.
The Kentucky State Police fall under Beshear’s jurisdiction, but currently work with ICE. Meanwhile, Coleman’s office works with 120 state federal offices, many of which work with the Department of Homeland Security.
“I don’t want to start a dog fight because the truth is that cooperation will never end here because those of us who are sworn to protect families will cooperate with our federal partners,” he said, pointing to a recent success across the Tug Fork River where such cooperation led to the arrest of 650 illegal immigrants in West Virginia.
FROM OBAMA AWARD TO MINNESOTA OP: WHY TRUMP IS CALLING TOM HOMAN FOR A GROUND CRACKDOWN
As for the legal ramifications of a potential conflict between a DHS-aligned attorney general and a governor with conflicting goals, one legal expert said the situation presents an interesting case.
Former Florida Attorney General Zack Smith said that while state law is slightly different, the governor is an elected constitutional officer, as are sheriffs, and no one can tell another what to do “in most cases.”
“The attorney general can issue legal opinions. He can issue some advisory opinions about what state law means or requires. But there are very few cases, in Florida at least, where the attorney general can compel another constitutional officer, like a sheriff, to comply with state law.”
“Now, if they’re breaking state law or something like that, obviously, he can prosecute them, but there’s really not much he can do as a practical matter,” he said, adding that Beshear may be relying on his “bullying pulpit” to effect change.
“There may be limits to what he can do — and remember the 287(g) agreements” in the states.
“I think this from a practical and policy standpoint, this is a very foolish and dangerous statement by the governor of Kentucky,” he said, pointing to the chaos in Minnesota caused by similar opposition to ICE operations.
PHILADELPHIA’S THREAT TO PROSECUTE ICE COULD PROCEED LANDMARK COURT FOR JURISDICTION, EXPERT
Beshear’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Both Beshear and Coleman have served as attorney general — something the governor said on “The View” — but Coleman said Beshear should know that cooperating with federal authorities is better than continuing to commit crimes.
“I would like to, on the other hand, honor my predecessor… [but] you know we’re very effective at protecting people,” he said, noting that his county has ICE to thank for taking a violent child abuser off the streets and that local authorities in Owensboro cooperated with DHS in arresting an illegal immigrant who had been defrauding the elderly.
TRUMP DHS HAMMERS IDEA GOVERNOR’S RISK OF SURVEILLANCE FOR TRAFFIC AGENTS: ‘ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE’
In neighboring Virginia, officials are following Beshear’s advice by ending state partnerships created under former Governor Glenn Youngkin and advancing bills to prevent DHS collaboration.
When asked, Coleman said he doesn’t see Frankfort following Richmond’s lead anytime soon and lamented the loss of several of his Virginia teammates.
“Fortunately, I don’t have to deal with that idea here in this Commonwealth, but in our Mother Commonwealth (Virginia), it worries me a lot. [also] I hate to lose an amazing partner in Jason Miyares,” he added.
DHS also backed down from Beshear’s position. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said law enforcement will “continue to arrest illegal criminals across the state of Kentucky while local politicians like Governor Beshear continue to undermine our law and engage illegal criminals over American citizens.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“We need to communicate with local law enforcement and information so we don’t need to be on the streets,” he said.
He listed several recent arrests in Kentucky, including Roman Sanchez, who has been described as a convicted felon convicted of murder, first degree murder of a family member with a firearm, robbery, burglary, receiving stolen property and armed street robbery, as well as several people convicted of rape.
