Peter Lizdas: Warnke’s words on immigration are troubling

Re “Locals weigh in on Obama immigration order” (Page A1, Nov. 22): The recent Sun-Star article reporting on local reaction to the President’s proposed immigration policy executive action quotes Sheriff-elect Vern Warnke: “(Obama) is not going to allow us to arrest a lot of these folks based on the fact that they’re here illegally – that to me is completely wrong. Obama will never have to deal with these policies on a personal level; I will.”

Personally, I find Warnke’s remark rather curious and perhaps alarming. First, I have to question if Warnke even understands what the President’s action would entail. Certainly it does not shield any law-breakers from appropriate action by law enforcement. So it won’t hamper Warnke in his duties, unless the new sheriff thinks, like Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., that he should take on the duties of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau. But perhaps that is what Warnke is suggesting: That he should be free to go around arresting people “based on the fact that they are here illegally,” and nothing else. If that is the case, Warnke’s tenure as sheriff might turn out to be a little more exciting than many voters expected. Close public oversight seems well-advised, starting now.

This story was originally published December 1, 2014 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Peter Lizdas: Warnke’s words on immigration are troubling."