Sheriff Mike Slupe, Beaver county sheriff recognized for ICE cooperation
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe was presented Thursday, Oct. 16, with the American Constitutional Conservative Rights Union’s Defender Award for supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.
The organization also presented the award to Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy.
The sheriffs were presented their awards in front of the Our Silent Defenders memorial in Diamond Park in Butler by the organization’s executive director Allen West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former U.S. Congressman.
“I’m very honored to receive this award from the American Constitutional Conservative Rights Union and for their recognition of sheriffs and law enforcement across this country who support ICE in their mission and we’re honored the colonel came up from Texas to present the award,” Slupe said.
West said the organization was created in 1999 as a counterbalance to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The organization was founded by Robert B. Carleson, a Navy combat veteran who ran California’s welfare department from 1971 to 1972 under then-Gov. Ronald Reagan before becoming the U.S. Commissioner of Welfare from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Serving on the organization’s board of directors is Edwin Meese III, who served as U.S. Attorney General from February 1985 to August 1988 under President Ronald Reagan.
“I find it very disturbing and disconcerting the ACLU is bringing lawsuits against law enforcement agencies for doing what they’re supposed to do,” West said.
He said it is hypocritical for public officials to oppose law enforcement efforts to assist ICE.
The 287(g) program authorized by the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Department of Homeland Security to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to help identify and remove undocumented immigrants, West said.
The American Constitutional Conservative Rights Union has presented Defender Awards to 70 sheriffs across the country that have agreed to assist ICE and 17 government offices that support ICE in response to the ACLU suing sheriffs for working with ICE, West said.
Butler attorney Tom King greeted West and Guy in Slupe’s office Thursday.
King represented the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association in support of the Bucks County sheriff’s successful defense against a suit filed by the ACLU for agreeing to assist ICE. Slupe testified in the case.
“The ACLU is behind this. They’re basically an arm of the Democratic Party,” said King, who also represents the Pennsylvania Republican Party. “The colonel is a true American hero. We’re glad to have him here.”
Guy, who was a state police trooper for 25 years before becoming sheriff 10 years ago, said he is proud to receive the award.
“I have a long history of supporting federal authorities and the rule of law and helping them in their mission,” he said.
