Sheriff Thomas Hodgson. (Bristol County Sheriff's Office)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — In a statement released Monday, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson had strong words for local officials who are suing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
The lawsuit seeks to bar ICE agents from entering courthouses in order to arrest defendants who are in the country illegally.
"Shame on the elected officials and pro-illegal advocates for filing this frivolous lawsuit, which seeks to make it more difficult for federal law enforcement officers to apprehend cirminal illegal aliens," he wrote.
Two Massachusetts District Attorneys—Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins and Middlesex DA Marian Ryan—are among those suing ICE in the lawsuit.
Hodgson said the DAs should be working with ICE instead of, in his words, "partnering with criminal illegal immigrants." He said keeping ICE agents out of the courtroom "is the same as barring the FBI or the DEA."
"ICE officers are federal law enforcement professionals who risk their lives day in and day out protecting our communities: Shame on anyone, especially officials sworn to protect their citizens, who sides with the lawbreakers over law enforcement," Hodgson wrote.
Hodgson, an outspoken proponent of ICE, has made headlines in the past for offering to send Bristol County inmates to help build President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico, as well as for calling for the leaders of sanctuary cities to be arrested.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App