Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers has issued a statement about the purpose of his trip funded by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
Myers, who was recently appointed to the National Sheriff’s Association Homeland Security Committee and the National Sheriff’s Association Drug Enforcement Committee, joined 199 other sheriffs from across the United States in attending a White House conference and briefing on “Secure Borders and Safe Communities,” including a panel discussion with several high-ranking Trump administration officials.
The sheriff said he was told by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association that FAIR was paying for the trip for six Indiana sheriffs, including Myers, just as they had paid for multiple other sheriffs to attend conferences previously.
The Republic reached out to both the state and national sheriff’s association about their organization of the trip prior to the story being published, but neither organization returned telephone calls seeking comment prior to the story’s publication. Repeated telephone calls were made Monday and again there was no comment from either group, although the Indiana Sheriff’s Association emailed to say someone would call The Republic today.
Myers said in his statement the purpose of his trip was to discuss securing borders and ports, drugs, drugs coming across the border and the number of people trying to enter the U.S.
In the statement, Myers said, “We spoke about immigration courts having a backlog of 800,000 cases pending — with each case taking almost two years. We spoke about how the cartel is profiting from people coming into the United States illegally. We spoke of some type of needed reform and the necessity of humanitarian relief efforts but none of this was included in the article.”
The Republic cited several sources who said FAIR has been accused of having ties to white nationalists, pro-eugenics research and promoting bigotry toward immigrants. The newspaper included links to those sources, along with a link to FAIR’s website, in the story.
Fair describes itself as a “non-profit and non-partisan organization” that seeks to eliminate illegal immigration and drastically reduce legal immigration to “allow America to more sensibly manage its growth, address its environmental needs and maintain a high quality of life,” according to the group’s website.
The group, however, has been criticized by the Anti-Defamation League, which has said FAIR’s “anti-immigration stance is based on a bigoted representation of immigrants,” and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has classified FAIR as a “hate group” since 2008 for, among other things, accepting money from a pro-eugenics fund and promoting the “hatred of immigrants, especially non-white ones.”
Myers said he did not believe that the state or national sheriff’s associations would associate with any type of “hate group.”
“I did not go to Washington with a political agenda. I did not attend this conference/briefing in an attempt to solve America’s immigration issues — I attended to discuss the issue of homeland security, to talk about drugs and their effect on Bartholomew County, Indiana. I did address the president’s panel and told them that the U.S. needed proper border and port security and shared with them the devastation of 40 drug-related deaths in our county,” Myers said in his statement.
“I do agree that there is a gridlock and that people who are coming into our country legally, need to be let in. I am not targeting any group and, until I hear otherwise, I cannot believe that the Indiana Sheriff’s Association and/or the National Sheriff’s Association are doing so either. Border security is a national issue. Drugs are not only an issue in Bartholomew County, Indiana — drugs are a national issue,” Myers wrote in his statement.
“I have never…I don’t…and I never will support any hate group. I have worked my entire adult life protecting and serving Columbus and Bartholomew County. I served many years on the board of directors for SuCasa and I have always been and will always be a proponent of equal rights for all. I remain committed to honorable performance of my duties with integrity, professionalism and trust and I stand against bigotry in all forms.”
Myers wrote the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department does not seek out those who are in the U.S. without proper documentation. “However, it is our duty to notify ICE when those who are here without proper documentation commit a criminal offense,” Myers wrote.
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On September 24 – 26, having recently been appointed to the National Sheriff’s Association Homeland Security Committee and the National Sheriff’s Association Drug Enforcement Committee, I joined 199 other sheriffs from across our nation in attending a White House Conference and Briefing on “Secure Borders and Safe Communities”. The briefing included a panel discussion in which several high-ranking Trump administration officials participated.
I was told by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association that the Federation for American Immigration Reform was paying for the trip for the six Indiana sheriffs who planned to attend just as they paid for multiple other sheriffs to attend conferences/briefings previously.
I spoke with the Republic newspaper about the purpose of my trip: securing borders and ports, drugs, drugs coming across the border, the number of people trying to enter the U.S. We spoke about immigration courts having a backlog of 800,000 cases pending – with each case taking almost 2 years. We spoke about how the Cartel is profiting from people coming into the United States illegally. We spoke of some type of needed reform and the necessity of humanitarian relief efforts but none of this was included in the article. Border Security (and Safe Communities) was the topic of the Conference.
Although The Republic newspaper article reads: “Fair describes itself as a “non-profit and nonpartisan organization” that seeks to eliminate illegal immigration and drastically reduce legal immigration.” And, the Republic wrote that FAIR is against all non-white immigration – a statement that I am unable to locate anywhere.
FAIR Mission Statement – as it reads on their website: “FAIR seeks to reduce overall immigration to a more normal level. Reducing legal immigration levels from well over one million presently to 300,000 a year over a sustained period will allow America to manage growth, address environmental concerns, and maintain a high quality of life.”
Once I became aware of the Republic’s concern about the Federation for American Immigration Reform, I asked the Republic to contact the Indiana Sheriff’s Association and the National Sheriff’s Association. Without speaking to representatives from either Association, the Republic moved forward with the article. I believe they should have waited until they could speak with ISA and NSA representatives before moving forward with the article. I believe this is exactly why so many people today are discouraged with the media. However, in no way, do I believe that the Indiana Sheriff’s Association or the National Sheriff’s Association would associate with any type of “hate group”.
I did not go to Washington with a political agenda. I did not attend this Conference/Briefing in an attempt to solve America’s immigration issues – I attended to discuss the issue of homeland security, to talk about drugs and their effect on Bartholomew County, Indiana.
I did address the President’s panel and told them that the U.S. needed proper border and port security and shared with them the devastation of 40 drug-related deaths in our county.
I do agree that there is a gridlock and that people who are coming into our country legally, need to be let in. I am not targeting any group and, until I hear otherwise, I cannot believe that the Indiana Sheriff’s Association and/or the National Sheriff’s Association are doing so either. Border security is a national issue. Drugs are not only an issue in Bartholomew County, Indiana – drugs are a national issue.
I have never…I don’t…and I never will support any hate group. I have worked my entire adult life protecting and serving Columbus and Bartholomew County. I served many years on the Board of Directors for SuCasa and I have always been and will always be a proponent of equal rights for all. I remain committed to honorable performance of my duties with integrity, professionalism and trust and I stand against bigotry in all forms.
At this time, with the information that I have, I believe that this article is political. I don’t believe that it is a political attack on me personally, on ISA or on the NSA – I believe it is an attack on President Trump and his Administration. I will get to the bottom of this.
If you have any questions, call 812-379-1650 and make an appointment. I am happy to discuss this article with anyone.
While I was in D.C., I did have the opportunity to meet with Senator Todd Young, Senator Mike Braun, and Congressman Greg Pence and we discussed drugs and their effect on Hoosiers and all Indiana counties.
Your Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office does not seek out those who are in our county without proper documentation. However, it is our duty to notify ICE when those who are here without proper documentation commit a criminal offense.
I am extremely disappointed that our local newspaper would move ahead with such an article without speaking to the Indiana Sheriff’s Association, the National Sheriff’s Association, the White House and all others involved. But I assure Bartholomew County residents – I will get to the bottom of this and I will take appropriate action as needed.
You can view The Republic article at:
http://www.therepublic.com/2019/10/13/sheriff_trip_bankrolled_by_fair_group/
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For more information about the Federation for American Immigration Reform, visit fairus.org.
Anti-Defamation League report: https://www.adl.org/the-anti-immigrant-movement-in-the-us#profiles-of-anti-immigrant-groups
Southern Poverty Law Firm: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/federation-american-immigration-reform
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