The Courier of Montgomery County reports that an updated strategic plan, which has a border security section to help fight drug and human trafficking in the area, has been announced by Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson.
The updated plan will be in effect for his office through 2026.
The border crisis is having an effect on Montgomery County, according to County Judge Mark Keough. He thinks the border security section of the plan will help bring about a “culture of deterrence.”
Originally the plan concentrated on educating citizens, policing in the community and lessening the fear of crime. This most recent updated plan focuses on the crisis at the border that is delivering crime across the country, and of course, in Montgomery County.
The sheriff said, “All counties are border counties.” He was referring to the effect of the fentanyl crisis and human trafficking.
While it may be a new part of Henderson’s strategic plan, border security issues are not new to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office, back in 2017, signed on to be part of an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be a part of the 287 program of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The 287 program, according to the sheriff, partners state and local law enforcement agencies to allow chosen officers to get the right kind of training to engage in limited immigration law enforcement activities. He also said it lets them confirm the immigration status of those being put in the jail. It allows them to see the identify of those born outside the U.S to check for criminal charges and convictions, so they can move on to ICE custody following the serving of their sentence. According to the sheriff, this lowers the number of offenders with illegal status being released locally.
