If there’s one person who has his finger on the pulse of the problem of illegal immigration on our southern border it’s Arizona’s Mark Dannels.

Backed with 34 years of law enforcement experience, Dannels can speak about the immigration problem with authority. Respected by his peers, he was named the 2018 Sheriff of the Year by the 16-state Western States Sheriffs’ Association.

Dannels believes the immigration is at a critical juncture, evidenced by the immigrant caravans currently headed to the U.S. border. Earlier this month, he issued a statement on behalf of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association concerning the “catch and release” strategy for Border Patrol Agents in Arizona. The sheriffs oppose that plan, both from a community safety and a humanitarian standpoint.

Due to a lack of available space and resources, he explained how the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has no alternative other than releasing the detainees onto the streets of our communities.

This leads to ancillary issues, such as potential increases in crime, victimization of undocumented immigrants, exploitation of juvenile children and human rights concerns.

Pointing to a lack of action from our congressional leadership, Dannels said the word travels fast to foreign countries regarding our nation’s current situation, and this can only lead to more refugees taking advantage of the inaction.

Dannels explains how the influx of family units pouring over the border has nearly doubled. Last year, more than 80,000 family units were apprehended.

This year already, there have been in excess of 140,000 family units apprehended at the border.

He said sheriffs have been told that at the current rate, an immigration hearing in federal court may take six or seven years to schedule, so it’s a good bet that the vast majority of those who are released with a promise to appear will never do so.

Dannels closed his letter by stating that most citizens are frustrated and disappointed with our national leadership. The absence of a current strategy will impact all local communities since they lack the financial resources and the infrastructure to handle the additional burden.

The sheriff said it’s past time that our elected national leaders put aside their partisan positions and focus on what is best for our nation, while maintaining the rights of all people in our country.

He stresses that the entire system is past the breaking point.

The Trump administration took notice of Dannels’ wisdom and his success in dealing with border-security issues. After Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen toured the Arizona border in June, she recommended Dannels be appointed to the advisory council in Washington, D.C.

Dannels became the first local sheriff ever to have been offered a seat on the council, which is dominated by high-ranking military officers and executives. He will occupy that seat while continuing to work as sheriff in his home county.

Dannels’ inclusion on the council provides a voice from the community standpoint and brings a sheriff’s perspective to the border security discussions.

After his appointment, Dannels explained that local law enforcement officers don’t want to get involved in politics. They don’t police for politics or for budgets, he said.

They police for people.

As immigrant caravans from Central and South America continue marching to our southern border, the administration is fortunate to have a “Constitutional Sheriff” like Dannels advising them from the front lines of the immigration crisis.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com