Crime spike prompted deal with state on prosecuting migrants, Texas sheriff says

The Gazette ^ | Dec 10, 2021 | Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner

[E. Pluribus Unum]

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas border sheriff who had resisted working with the state to refer illegal immigrants on state trespassing charges said rising crime in his community has forced him to take action and partner with Austin.

Despite neighboring counties signing agreements to work with the state earlier this year, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber had held out on partnering with the governor's office to refer noncitizens on state charges.

"The state's been after me for a few months," said Schmerber. "I hesitated for about two months. What kind of pushed me to really was because there were more things that were happening. I didn't see migrants coming in and just moving on. I saw immigrants get into houses, breaking in, damaging, taking things. I started getting calls from ranchers about all the damage they were doing — calls from neighborhoods close to the city about breaking in, taking things."

In one recent incident, he said, a Honduran man broke into the home of a 73-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her. Schmerber was unable to provide recent crime statistics.

Schmerber's agreement with the state allows him to turn over those who trespass after they have entered the United States from Mexico.

"If somebody goes onto a ranch and they jump the fence, that's going to be a state charge now because of trespassing," Schmerber said. "If they go into a house, they're going to have another charge for breaking into private property."

Traffickers, drug smugglers, or illegal immigrants who are caught trespassing on private property will now be prosecuted by the county attorney on the state charge of criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor charge. County and state officials cannot charge someone on federal immigration charges, though drug and human smugglers could face additional charges.

[FoxInSocks]

there were more things that were happening. I didn't see migrants coming in and just moving on.

If they commit crimes after passing through your area, it’s fine, I guess. NIMBY.

[asinclair]

So a State is barred from passing Immigration control law, because Federal law preempts such law. What Texas could do, though, is update sentencing guidelines to make illegal border crossing an enhancement to other crimes, such as all crimes against persons, and particular crimes like home invasion and theft.

Make sentence enhancements strong enough, and Texas wouldn't need its own immigration laws.

[chief lee runamok]

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, with
schmuck's like this in charge, who needs sheriffs.

[gnarledmaw]

They got what they voted for. Maybe if they made him a 5 star general then he would be able to figure out how to wear a clip on tie.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Sounds like they need a new sheriff. And a state investigation to see what else he's waffling on enforcing the law about and why. He's giving off a corrupt vibe.

 

 

[17th Miss Regt]

"If they go into a house, they're going to have another charge for breaking into private property."

This is wrong, wrong, wrong. This is Texas. The proper thing is to call the coroner.

[chuckee]

If there is such a thing as a Soros sheriff, this jagoff is it.

[Bikkuri]

If I still lived on a ranch in Texas, I would go by the 3 Ss.. (shoot, shovel, shut up).

Used to be a similar law like that in Texas..

Also, as far as I know, there is still a law on the books that says it is legal to hang any cattle wrestler.