Former Pinal County, Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb joined Chicago’s Morning Answer to denounce what he called “lawless sanctuary policies” in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles—arguing that local leaders are actively obstructing federal law enforcement and endangering public safety.
Lamb, who now serves as a law enforcement adviser for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), said recent measures to block ICE operations and provide taxpayer-funded benefits to undocumented immigrants are not only misguided but illegal. “Title 8, U.S. Code 1324 makes it a crime to conceal or harbor people in the country illegally,” he said. “That’s exactly what these politicians are doing.”
Reacting to reports that Illinois spent more than $600 million on healthcare for undocumented adults, Lamb said the policies are straining public resources and undermining respect for the law. “These officials are rewarding illegal behavior while the rest of America struggles to afford basic services,” he said.
Lamb also dismissed claims that federal detention centers are abusive, describing them as far better equipped than most local jails. “ICE facilities provide more care than many American citizens in county lockups receive,” he said. “Inmates get clean clothes, medical care, barbers, even recreational areas. The standard of care is irritatingly high.”
He added that detainees receive about 2,800 calories per day and access to legal processes, arguing that criticisms of “children in cages” and inhumane treatment are political fabrications. “Most Americans would be shocked at how comfortable these facilities really are,” Lamb said.
The former sheriff contrasted current immigration enforcement under the Biden administration with what he described as a dramatic turnaround since Donald Trump’s return to office. “Before Trump was even sworn in, you could feel the difference,” he said. “Now the flow of illegal crossings has slowed, and law enforcement finally has the backing it needs.”
Lamb warned that the consequences of four years of lax enforcement remain severe, including record drug trafficking and human smuggling by Mexican cartels. “You can sell a pill once, but you can sell a human being over and over again,” he said. “That’s what’s happening right now in America. The cartels are getting rich while women and children are exploited.”
Calling for renewed cooperation between local and federal law enforcement, Lamb said political grandstanding in blue cities has created a dangerous divide. “When local leaders choose ideology over enforcement, they make every community less safe,” he said. “It’s time for cities like Chicago to stand with law enforcement, not against it.”