An Arizona sheriff warned that the United States is “in serious trouble” due to the Biden administration’s immigration policies that will cause a “huge crisis.”

“Where it’s going is a huge crisis,” said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels. “It’s already knocking on that door. There’s no doubt about it. Talking to my federal partners, talking to local law enforcement, talking to our health department – I mean, when it comes to public safety, national security, when it comes to the health pandemic, we’re in trouble. We’re seriously in trouble, and this all started under the word ‘politics.’ “

Dannels said President Biden failed to consult with Arizona lawmakers before making immigration enforcement decisions, leaving the state to “pick up the pieces” at a border that is “wide open” for cartels.

“When this administration failed to engage with my governor, my attorney general, our health departments, our emergency services coordinator, along with other border states and beyond, that’s when it started. So, we’re trying to pick up the pieces right now. It’s an unfunded mandate by the federal government to local communities,” Dannels said.

Dannels also warned that the administration seemingly didn’t have a plan to deal with immigrants amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“These people that are being released under catch and release on the MPP program are wards of the federal government,” Dannels said. “But there’s no funding attached to it, and I’m worried about public safety and the global pandemic.”

Dannels also called on Dr. Anthony Fauci to comment on the situation at the border over the weekend, saying he would “love to hear” from the infectious disease expert as untested immigrants are being released into communities.

“Nobody is talking about what’s going on on the southwest border when it comes to the health pandemic in this country,” Dannels said. “They are not testing them. They’re being released without being tested into communities. And then, you look at the public safety aspect of this. It’s upsetting. It’s almost like we’re not part of this country, which is very upsetting.”

Dannels’s remarks came as Texas announced it was facing similar circumstances at its border with Mexico, with Gov. Greg Abbott deploying the National Guard troops and extra law enforcement to assist.

“Today Texas launched Operation Lone Star to respond to the border crisis,” Abbott tweeted Saturday. “It deploys Nat’l Guard + DPS Officers + air, ground, marine, & tactical border security assets to deny Mexican Cartels & smugglers the ability to move drugs & people into Texas.”

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