Hamilton County sheriff visits the southern border
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Sheriff Austin Garrett got an invitation to visit the U.S. and Mexico border in Texas.
He got to speak with multiple agencies on his trip, like the sheriff of Kenny County, one county north of Eagle Pass.
Sheriff Garrett said, “The crisis there has just absolutely attacked his judicial system. He told us he had 400 plus pursuits last year through his county with smugglers coming into the country. Either smuggling people or Fentanyl and illegal narcotics.”
Sheriff Garrett believes that the border is affecting all states, not just Texas, and even has an effect here in Hamilton County.
“What happens, there is a cancer that is going to spread across the country and it’s already across the country. New York, major cities, they’re not just there,” said the sheriff.
He believes that the fentanyl in Hamilton County has a connection to the border.
“Absolutely, there’s a nexus to it. It’s coming across the border. It’s either coming on someone’s person, it’s coming by train, it’s coming by car, but it’s crossing the border. It does come in other ways, but the vast documented method is coming across the borders. Through enterprise and Mexico.”
Yet Sherriff Garrett doesn’t want residents to be scared.
“I’d used the word vigilant versus scared. Just be aware of what’s going on, the national level, the local level. Get involved. Get involved with groups and ask questions about things and study things. Have a plan for your family. Educate your kids, educate each other.”
If Texas put out the call, he would send what resources he could to support them
Sheriff Garrett said, “If they request the sheriff’s office to assist them, I will gladly send Hamilton County deputies down there to assist them for a couple of days or whatever I can do that is within my ability. If that request were to come.”
Eagle Pass, Texas is about 100 miles southwest of San Antonio.
The sheriff said that he learned that there were individuals from 150 different countries crossing the border.
