Courtesy of Sheriff Matt Myers FB page
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Sheriff Matt Myers, along with 199 sheriffs from across the country, recently attended a White House conference on “Secure Borders and Safe Communities.” The briefing included a panel discussion with several high-ranking Trump administration officials.
Sheriff Myers said that he was informed by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association that the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) was paying for the trip for six Indiana sheriffs who planned to attend. After returning to Columbus, Myers has received some criticism for taking the trip to Washington, D.C. that was paid for by FAIR.
FAIR, according to their website, is a “non-partisan, public interest organization” that focuses on eliminating illegal immigration to the United States. However, they have been described by some as anti-immigration and a “hate group.” This was discussed with Myers in a local newspaper article about his trip. He issued his own response to the story and its possible criticisms against him.
On the Sheriff Matt Myers Facebook page, the county’s top law enforcement officer responded by stating “I was told by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association that the Federation for American Immigration Reform was paying for the trip for six Indiana sheriffs to attend just as they paid for other sheriffs to attend conferences previously. I have never, I don’t, and never will support any hate group. I have worked my entire adult life protecting and serving Columbus and Bartholomew County. I have always been a proponent of equal rights for all. I remain committed to the honorable performance of my duties with integrity, professionalism, and trust. I stand against bigotry in all forms.”
Myers also mentioned he “did not go to Washington with a political agenda.” His intentions were to “discuss homeland security, and talk about drugs and their effect on Bartholomew County.”
The full response to the article can be found here.
