Anti-ICE Sheriff Garry McFadden and the Civics Moment That Went Viral
When a sitting sheriff — the highest law enforcement officer in his county — cannot answer how many branches of government exist, it’s not just an awkward hearing moment. It’s a flashing red warning light. During a North Carolina House Oversight Committee hearing, Anti-ICE Sheriff Garry McFadden was asked a question most fifth graders could handle: What branch of government do you operate under? His answer? “Mecklenburg County.” Then “The Constitution.” Then, eventually, “Judicial.” The correct answer, of course, is executive. You enforce the law. That’s literally the job. And when the man in charge of enforcing the law doesn’t seem clear on how government works, the problem isn’t partisan. It’s foundational.
This Wasn’t About a Gotcha — It Was About Authority
Let’s be clear. Representative Allen Chesser didn’t walk into that hearing planning to host a civics tutoring session. He was trying to establish a baseline. Before you can debate policy, you need agreement on structure. The sheriff operates under the executive branch. The executive branch executes the law. That’s not a suggestion. It’s not optional. It’s not something you can reinterpret based on political preference. And when Sheriff McFadden struggled to identify that, it became difficult to move forward into the larger issue: whether he believes he is required to enforce state law when it comes to ICE detainers.
The Quote That Won’t Go Away
This entire controversy didn’t start with a civics pop quiz. It started with McFadden’s own words. A direct quote attributed to him reads: “We do not have a role in enforcement whatsoever. We do not have to follow the rules and the laws that are governed by our lawmakers in Raleigh.” That’s not vague. That’s not subtle. That’s not easily misunderstood. When confronted with the quote, McFadden said it was taken out of context and referred specifically to immigration enforcement. But here’s the thing: immigration enforcement is still law. And if state lawmakers pass legislation requiring compliance with ICE detainers, that falls under your duty as an executive officer.
House Bill 318, House Bill 10, and the Reality of State Law
North Carolina lawmakers passed House Bill 10 and later House Bill 318 to require cooperation with ICE detainers. Whether you personally like those laws is irrelevant. In our system, legislators pass laws. Executives enforce them. Sheriffs do not get to decide which laws align with their political worldview. During the hearing, McFadden eventually said his office is now complying with state law. That’s good. But the concern raised by lawmakers wasn’t just about today. It was about past statements, past refusals, and whether public safety was ever filtered through personal interpretation.
Leadership Means The Buck Stops With You
Here’s where this story shifts from comedy to concern. Representative Chesser, an Army veteran and former police officer, made a pointed observation after the hearing. He said he has never heard someone with the rank of sheriff refuse to take responsibility so consistently. Leadership means owning decisions. It means answering questions directly. It means not blaming staff, lobbyists, or the legislature when things go sideways. The hearing revealed something deeper than a knowledge gap. It revealed a leadership gap.
The Iryna Zarutska Tragedy Raises the Stakes
The hearing was not theoretical. It was spurred in part by the killing of Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death in Charlotte. She came to the United States to escape war. She should have found safety. When a tragedy like that occurs, people understandably ask: Was the law enforced equally? Were detainers honored? Were custody decisions handled appropriately? No one is claiming a direct, simplistic cause-and-effect. But when enforcement varies by county, and when sheriffs publicly question cooperation requirements, public trust erodes.
Sanctuary Politics vs. Equal Protection
Sheriff McFadden has positioned himself as a prominent critic of ICE cooperation. He has framed his stance as protecting local priorities. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: state law exists to create uniformity. Public safety should not depend on zip code. If the legislature says detainers must be honored, that standard applies statewide. Otherwise, we don’t have a system of laws. We have a system of preferences. And preferences change with elections. Laws are supposed to provide stability.
The Executive Branch Is Not a Suggestion Box
The executive branch does not get to nullify laws passed by the legislature because it disagrees with them. That’s not how constitutional government works. If you believe a law is unconstitutional, you challenge it in court. You don’t publicly declare your independence from it. That’s why the initial civics question mattered so much. It wasn’t trivia. It was about understanding the limits of your authority. Sheriffs do not write the law. They do not reinterpret the law. They enforce the law.
Why This Matters Beyond One Hearing
Some will dismiss this as partisan theater. It’s not. The broader issue is whether law enforcement leaders understand their constitutional role. When you take an oath to execute your office “agreeable to law,” that means following statute — not opinion. The hearing showed a tension between political ideology and statutory obligation. And when those collide, the law must win. Otherwise, every county becomes its own mini-sovereign state.
The Bigger Conservative Principle at Stake
This isn’t just about immigration. It’s about accountability. Conservatives have long argued that selective enforcement undermines equal protection. You can’t demand rule of law at the federal level while excusing refusal at the local level. If Republicans were openly refusing to enforce state law because they disliked it, the outrage would be deafening. The principle must apply universally: enforce the law as written or challenge it through proper channels.
Final Thoughts on Anti-ICE Sheriff Garry McFadden
There’s humor in a sheriff stumbling through a civics question. It’s meme-worthy. It’s viral. But beneath the surface is something serious. Anti-ICE Sheriff Garry McFadden is not just a headline. He’s an elected official responsible for public safety in one of North Carolina’s largest counties. Citizens deserve clarity, accountability, and consistency. They deserve a sheriff who understands the structure of government and embraces the responsibility that comes with executive authority. This isn’t about humiliation. It’s about expectations. The badge carries weight. So should the answers.
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Numerous issues are raised here! But the fact that a county head sheriff can’t answer the question how many branches of government are there is VERY alarming! And he was not willing to take any accountability for his previous statements and actions. When he would have garnered his position, DEI hires likely weren’t in vogue at the time, but he certainly acts like woke, DEI hire! Pathetic!
Agree Buzz