Letter from Mary Anne Whelan

Tague Should Not Support Sheriffs

State Representative Tague offers a distorted interpretation of recent legislation (“The Freeman’s Journal,” September 3, 2026). While it is understandable that he wishes to secure the support of local law enforcement people for his planned run for senator of our state assembly, he is nonetheless under some obligation to state factual matters correctly.

The “Local Cops/Local Crimes” legislation responds to the attempt of ICE to contract with local sheriffs, requiring them to notify ICE of all persons pending release who have served their time, including those without a judicial warrant against them, but with only an ICE warrant. Which is to say: Persons among others who may be here on legal visas and applications for citizenship, and who have faithfully and correctly discharged their obligations to report as required. People working and raising families here, hoping for a better life.

Remember our community member, Pedro? ICE warrants per se are worthless: ICE has even been known to write warrants after the fact of seizure (after all, they have to make their 1,200-1,500 daily seizures, per presidential command.) Executing the contract with ICE would require the ongoing use of our jail facilities and law enforcement people to guard and transport them to ICE, though Sheriff Devlin originally claimed that the process would not divert them to do so. He subsequently admitted otherwise.

The Local Cops/Local Crimes act is not an attempt to “totally dismantle law enforcement,” as Tague stated. It ensures that they are not sumped off from their proper jobs. It keeps our resources from being diverted. And, quite obviously, it is not “illegal.” Does Tague even understand the meaning of the word? Because it is now, and properly, codified law. Clearly, however, he does understand what it is to be “political.”

Mary Anne Whelan
Cooperstown