Sheriff Candidates Sound Off On Immigration

POSTED: 3:15 pm CDT May 15, 2008
UPDATED: 3:22 pm CDT May 15, 2008


VAN BUREN, Ark. -- Current Crawford County sheriff Mike Allen will face challenger Jim Freeman in the May 20 Arkansas Primary. 40/29 News talked to the candidates about their thoughts on immigration.

Crawford County Sheriff Candidates Sound Off On Immigration

"There's definitely a problem with immigration and it needs to be fixed. I won't sugar coat this for you. The federal government does not give Crawford County any money to actively pursue immigration laws. When we get a call, we will definitely go out on that call with other agencies and take care of those matters, but at the present time we are so busy taking care of other crimes that I don't have the manpower to fight immigration laws," Allen said.

"Immigration is a big issue. From time to time we get our share of folks here, but I don't think the county needs to be budgeted out for something that the federal folks need to handle. They're already budgeted for that. We have no budget for that, no means to handle that. So, I don't think it should be left at just a county level," Freeman said.

The winner of the primary election will face off against Independent candidate Jerry Cowan in the fall.

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