North Carolina Lawmaker’s Surprising Exchange with Sheriff

Rep. Allen Chesser, a Republican from North Carolina, expressed surprise at how Democratic sheriffs, who typically resist collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), struggled to answer basic governmental questions.

This unexpected moment unfolded during a North Carolina House Oversight Committee hearing following the tragic murder of Irina Zalutka, a young Ukrainian woman in Charlotte. Chesser directed a question to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, asking, “Which branch of government do you operate under?”

McFadden simply responded, “Mecklenburg County,” prompting Chesser to clarify, “Sheriff, what branch of government do you operate under?” The sheriff then stated, “The Constitution of the United States,” to which Chesser replied, “That determines the branches of government. Which branch are you part of?”

When McFadden repeated, “Mecklenburg County,” Chesser seemed taken aback. He then asked, “Do you know how many government agencies there are?” to which McFadden quickly answered, “No.”

After a pause, Chesser continued, “Let’s assume there are three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Which one do you belong to?”

McFadden said, “I think I fall under the last…judiciary.” Chesser corrected him, stating, “That’s not true, sir. You qualify as an executive.” He then pressed further, questioning how McFadden’s stance against cooperating with ICE aligned with his duties as an executive branch official responsible for law enforcement.

Chesser pointed out a previous statement from McFadden indicating, “we do not have any enforcement role and are not required to follow the rules and laws that the deputies in Raleigh have jurisdiction over.” The sheriff claimed that his words were taken out of context and only referred to immigration enforcement.

Although McFadden didn’t elaborate further, he acknowledged that the president is currently adhering to state laws that mandate cooperation with ICE, stating, “We follow the law as it is enacted.”

In an interview the day after the hearing, Chesser, an Army veteran and former police officer, mentioned, “Those weren’t the kinds of questions we intended to ask him.” He noted contradictions in McFadden’s statements to the media compared to his testimony during the hearing, saying, “I never expected to have to walk into a fifth-grade civics class with a duly elected sheriff.”

Chesser criticized McFadden for his apparent reluctance to enforce state law regarding ICE cooperation, asserting, “It’s not so much a denial of immigration enforcement as it is a refusal to enforce state laws that require cooperation when individuals are detained.”

Reflecting on the recent murder of a Ukrainian citizen in their state, Chesser emphasized, “Every North Carolinian should be able to count on public safety. You’re safe, and whether the law is enforced shouldn’t depend on the county you are in.” He added, “North Carolina is a safe state for everyone who chooses to come here, and that’s the essence of the oversight committee’s mission.”

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return a request for comment.