EXCLUSIVE: Sheriff Joe Addresses Immigration Crisis & Impact of Murrieta Residents
BB: They have no incentive to. They have every incentive not to.
Sheriff: It was a good public relations ploy on that side because they thought they were going to come in and no one was going to touch them. “Come on across the border. The President has the DREAM Act.” It was going to be great. I think it backfired. It took a week for people to go “Oh, wait a minute. They’re dropping these kids off at a bus station?” Then everyone started [taking notice.]
BB: Out here, we’ve been getting a lot of the “refugee” argument, that these women and children are coming as refugee status or on political asylum and the reality is most of them aren’t women and children. A very, very small fraction are. There’s a lot of misinformation in that regard. The one thing that the media hasn’t reported is that the Murrieta facility is a small holding facility that can only hold 25 people. They don’t have proper bathroom or feeding facilities for these people.
Sheriff: I don’t think they did this for that reason. Even if they had facilities or they don’t have facilities, maybe they figure they’re killing two birds with one stone anyways if they’re getting this message out, whether it affects that town or not. They were able to get that message out verses a nice message when you have a small town in an uproar with the mayor. I don’t know if out here if the mayor has any authority. Where I’m at it’s just a vote on the city council. They think they’re powerful. They’re not Chicago or New York. And I think San Diego changed their laws where the mayor can hide behind the city manager. But the mayor is still the spokesman He [Murrieta Mayor Alan Long] went out front. I can see a small town in an uproar trying to block the streets over all these kids. They did their part. The other side did their part too. It made spread awareness throughout the country with little Murrieta, where no one knows how to spell the place.
BB: (Laughing) Very true. Very true.
Sheriff: That’s how we do it here in America. I’m here with the Tea Party. I’m a supporter the Tea Party on the concept that they are very strong and powerful. They need to get out there, start talking and demonstrating and sending a message, because politicians, even though the media controls everything – usually when there’s a lot of people talking – start listening. The Tea Party, whether it’s true or not, they figure they’re very strong and can sway votes. That’s good. The Tea Party has been a little quiet. I’m glad they’re back in action.
BB: Do you think they’re secretly figuring out what they want to do for the election cycle?
Sheriff: I don’t care what you want to call it, but these are concerned citizens who are interested in change. They don’t have to use the words Tea Party. But when you get the people out there sending a big message, that’s what people listen to. When the media gets wind of this, then they start. You could have a Murrieta in five papers. I know because I’m involved in all of these demonstrations. You have to laugh because you might get 50 people and 20 TV but when they report, “Well we had 200 demonstrators.” Come on. I know how to count. There weren’t 200. Then they show a group that looks big.
BB: And they film the angriest person.
Sheriff: They always have the guy or the gal blasting away. That’s okay. It’s a media event. I’m like the poster child – and probably one of the last left. Everyone in Phoenix, Senators and Congressmen, have been involved in recalls or indicted. I’m the only guy left out of all the fired in Arizona. I’m still around so it’s okay. I’ll be the last man standing. We’ll see what happens. Well nothing’s going to happen. You know that.