Sheriff Scott Hodshire has faced criticism after endorsing former president Donald Trump. Courtesy | Instagram 

Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott Hodshire has endorsed former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

“At this point, I believe Trump would be the best candidate for president of the United States,” Hodshire said. “He supports law enforcement. All we really are looking for is support from the commander in chief.”

Hodshire stood behind Trump as he spoke about illegal immigration with several Michigan sheriffs in Grand Rapids April 2. Afterward, Hodshire told The Collegian he is endorsing Trump for supporting law enforcement.

“Trump was very attentive, he kept focus with us, and backs the law enforcement 1000%,” Hodshire said. “We picked a sheriff that was going to speak for all of us, however if we had any other concerns, we were allowed to ask him about them.”

Out-of-state callers have been leaving “hate messages” for Hodshire due to his support for Trump, he said. 

“I tell them if President Biden invited me to a roundtable to discuss illegal immigration, the drug epidemic, and any other thing that has to do with law enforcement, I would be there in a heartbeat,” Hodshire said. “It doesn’t matter who the president is. If I’m invited to go give my concerns, I will be there whether you’re Democrat or Republican.”

The Police Officers Association of Michigan also endorsed Trump at the meeting, where the former president offered his thoughts about illegal immigration.

“Under ‘Crooked Joe’ Biden, every state is now a border state, every town is now a border town,” Trump said, according to WXMI. “These guys know exactly what I’m talking about. But we have to let them do their jobs.”

Hodshire said he is prepared to take steps to prevent illegal immigration.

“I don’t mind them coming into our country legally, and if they want to apply for citizenship, that’s great,” Hodshire said. “It doesn’t impact my county yet, but if we do find illegals here in my county, then we will be contacting ICE and they will be deported back.”

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer oversees a rent assistance program for illegal immigrants, and in February, encouraged residents to host migrants in their homes. Trump called her a “terrible governor,” citing the latter program.

“To just let them cross the border and then give them housing and money, and a ride and plane ticket anywhere they want to go in the United States, is not going to fly,” Hodshire said.

While the border crisis has not yet affected Hillsdale County, according to Hodshire, it may soon hit home.

“At the rate we’re letting these illegals in, I assume it’s not going to be long before they start filtering up to Michigan,” Hodshire said. “Obviously the crime would go up, right? I mean, they have nothing to lose coming into our country and creating havoc.”

The county’s main crime issues currently stem from drug addiction, Hodshire said, so he hopes to increase collaborations with the Michigan State Police’s Region of Irish Hills Narcotics Office to mitigate that. Hodshire said he thinks Trump would institute policies to help law enforcement. 

“He’s thinking that, if elected president again, he is going to come up with a federal law that if you kill a police officer, it’s an automatic death penalty,” Hodshire said. “For the sake of our country, we need to change who we’re voting for.”