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Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood spoke to 23ABC on Thursday about his decision to add his signature to a letter from Ron DeSantis' office in which the Florida governor called for greater border security. Youngblood joined more than 90 law enforcement offices across the country in signing the letter released by DeSantis' office in June. 23ABC's Veronica Morley spoke with Sheriff Youngblood to find out more.
Transcript
00:00 We begin with Kern County Sheriff Donnie Youngblood.
00:03 He's not shying away from his decision
00:05 to sign a letter from the office of Ron DeSantis
00:07 in which the Florida governor called
00:09 for greater border security.
00:11 23 ABC's Veronica Morley sat down with Youngblood
00:14 to discuss the decision and his concerns
00:16 regarding safety in Kern County.
00:18 Sheriff Donnie Youngblood signing alongside
00:21 more than 90 law enforcement departments
00:24 to a letter released by Governor Ron DeSantis' office
00:27 calling on greater border security.
00:29 Sheriff Youngblood saying that this wasn't a political move
00:32 but in fact his support for greater security
00:35 when it comes to our human trafficking
00:38 and drug trafficking issues here in Kern County.
00:41 It was not an endorsement for his candidacy.
00:43 Sheriff Youngblood defending his decision
00:45 to sign the letter back in June
00:46 in which DeSantis blames the Biden administration
00:49 for an increase in crime and drug trafficking.
00:52 I signed on to a letter that had things in there
00:55 that I agree with, things that will impact human trafficking,
00:59 things that will impact fentanyl sales in our county.
01:03 DeSantis announced in May his run
01:05 for the 2024 presidential election
01:07 and since then his campaign platform
01:09 has focused on several issues
01:11 including immigration and the border.
01:13 But Sheriff Youngblood says when he signed on to the letter
01:16 it was to make a statement about crime, not the election.
01:19 It was an endorsement for the issue of human trafficking,
01:24 fentanyl from our southern border.
01:26 We had 280 fentanyl deaths in this county last year.
01:30 Kern County immigration attorney, Wynn Eaton,
01:32 says while he agrees with the need to prevent crime
01:35 from crossing the border,
01:36 it's difficult to separate the issues from politics.
01:39 Let's not roll that criminal activity
01:42 into the entirety of immigration law and policy.
01:44 Youngblood referencing an incident from July 12th
01:47 when sheriff officials arrested 30-year-old
01:49 Pantaleon Lopez-Zavala of Durango, Mexico
01:53 near the outlets at Tijuana
01:54 for allegedly smuggling around 150,000 fentanyl pills.
01:58 And it's because of Kern County's unique proximity
02:01 to major highways like the 99, Interstate 5, and Highway 58
02:05 that he believes smuggling and trafficking at the border
02:08 has a direct impact on local crime.
02:10 If it all comes together in Kern County.
02:12 Eaton saying the issue with DeSantis' policy stance
02:14 is that immigration reform is all-encompassing.
02:17 A very peculiar time in history right now
02:20 with such a dire need for immigration reform.
02:23 - My concern for where Ron DeSantis is going
02:28 is it seems more demagoguery of the issue
02:33 that only Congress can deal with.
02:35 - While he endorses tougher border security,
02:37 Youngblood said he's not in support
02:39 of every stance DeSantis takes.
02:41 - I know that DeSantis has talked about
02:43 shooting people coming across the border.
02:45 I don't agree with shooting anyone unnecessarily,
02:48 and that shouldn't even be part of the equation.
02:51 The good, hardworking farm worker
02:52 or the good, hardworking person from Mexico
02:55 that's here working, not committing crimes, nobody cares.
02:58 - And you can read the letter released
03:01 by Governor DeSantis' office in its entirety
03:04 on our website, turnto23.com.
03:06 For 23 ABC News, I'm Veronica Morley connecting you.

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