Border sheriffs from 31 different counties come to Las Cruces for annual conference

Law enforcement from 31 different counties along the Southern border have all come together in Las Cruces.

It’s for the annual Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition.

It comes at a time where border issues are at the forefront of national discussion.

“We all meet to try to see if we can come up with solutions. We don’t all share the same opinions but at least we meet and discuss these issues and see how we can improve and provide public safety to these citizens,” Dona Ana County Sheriff Kiki Vigil said.

Tuesday’s guest speaker was Associate Deputy General Steven Cook. He is Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ right-hand man. Sessions will be addressing the coalition on Wednesday.

“[Sessions] travels around the country speaking to groups just like this one. The reason he does that is he wants to demonstrate unequivocally his support for state and local law enforcement,” Cook said.

Along with hearing from guest speakers, attendees got to participate in different training sessions. The goal of the coalition is to collaborate to make the border safer.

“As I’ve traveled across the country, what I’ve heard everywhere I go is — in battling the drugs, in battling human trafficking — the battle lines right here. It’s on the border,” Cook said.

Authorities tell our New Mexico Mobile Newsroom they anticipate protesters will be showing up on Wednesday when Attorney General Jeff Sessions is scheduled to speak.

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