Kentucky AG Russell Coleman fires back at Gov. Beshear over ICE cooperation

Exclusive: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman responded to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s comments on “The View” about withdrawing ICE from “every city,” setting up what could become a high-stakes intergovernmental battle over cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

“Every ICE agent must be pulled from every city and every community they are in. This organization must be reformed from top to bottom. Secretary Noem must be fired, and every agent must be retrained,” Beshear told an ABC talk show, before adding the Census of American Citizens brought a “pause.” [to] Pull everyone back.”

Coleman, who spoke to Fox News Digital from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office — home of NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and one of several… Kentucky jurisdictions This work with ICE – he said his position is “not political” and that ICE also has the support of the lawmen he was meeting with after the interview.

“My view as a law enforcement officer in this commonwealth, someone with a badge and a gun, someone who has been a federal prosecutor, [is] “This statement by the governor was ridiculous,” Coleman said.

Tom Homan pledges to work to resolve Virginia Democratic Gov. Spanberger’s new executive order ending snow co-op

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, left; Gov. Andy Beshear, right. (Marcus Dorsey/Getty Images; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Coleman said the dispute centers on Bashir’s “commentary” versus the reality of the agencies he controls.

The Kentucky State Police falls under Beshear’s jurisdiction, but currently works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, Coleman’s office works with the state’s 120 county sheriff’s offices, many of which cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security.

“I don’t want to make a strawman argument because the reality is that cooperation will never stop here because those of us who are sworn to protect families will work with our federal partners,” he said, pointing to recent successes across the Tug Fork River where such cooperation has led to 650 illegal immigrants were arrested In West Virginia.

From Obama to Minnesota: Why Trump tapped Tom Homan to campaign on the ground

As for the legal ramifications of a potential conflict between a prosecutor allied with DHS and a governor with opposing goals, one legal expert said the situation presents an interesting one.

Former Florida federal prosecutor Zach Smith said that while every State Public Prosecution It’s a little different: the governor is a constitutionally elected official, just like the mayor, and neither can tell the other what to do “in most cases.”

“The attorney general can issue legal opinions. They can issue certain advisory opinions about what state law means or requires. But there are very few instances, in Florida at least, where the attorney general can force another constitutional officer, like a city mayor, to comply with state law.”

“Now, if they violate state law or something, obviously he can prosecute them, but there’s not really a lot he can do as a practical matter,” he said, adding that Beshear would likely rely on his “bully pulpit” to effect change.

“There may be limits to what he can do – and remember that 287(g) Agreements“In the provinces.

“I think from a practical and political perspective, this is a very foolish and dangerous statement from the governor of Kentucky,” he said, referring to Chaos was born in Minnesota Similar opposition to ICE operations.

Experts warn that Philadelphia’s threat to sue ICE could lead to a historic court battle for the authority

Bashir’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Both Beshear and Coleman served as attorney general — something the governor mentioned on “The View” — but Coleman said Beshear should know that cooperating with the feds is better than going on the offensive.

“I would like, on the one hand, to respect my predecessor… [but] “Anyone who has spent time in law enforcement … knows that we are more effective at protecting people,” he said, noting that the county where he was sitting thanks ICE for removing a violent child sex predator from the streets and that Owensboro Local Authorities Collaborated with a Department of Homeland Security operation to arrest an illegal immigrant who was financially extorting seniors.

Trump DHS attacks Democratic governor’s portal for tracking ICE agents: ‘Encourages violence’

In neighboring Virginia, officials are moving to follow Beshear’s advice by ending state-federal cooperation formed under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and introducing bills to restrict Homeland Security cooperation.

When asked, Coleman said he didn’t see Frankfort following in Richmond’s footsteps anytime soon and lamented the loss of so many fellow Virginia cooperators.

“Fortunately, I don’t have to face that assumption here in this commonwealth, but in our mother commonwealth (Virginia), it was very troubling. We [also] “I would hate to lose an exceptional teammate in Jason Miyares,” he added.

The Department of Homeland Security also backed away from Beshear’s position. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal law enforcement “will continue to arrest criminal illegal aliens throughout Kentucky while sanctuary politicians like Governor Beshear continue to demonize our law enforcement and side with criminal illegal aliens at the expense of American citizens.”

Click here to download the FOX NEWS app

“We need state and local law enforcement engagement and information so we don’t have to have such a presence on the streets,” she said.

It lists several recent arrests in Kentucky, including Roman Sanchez, described as a criminal illegal immigrant who was convicted of murder, first-degree murder of a family member with a handgun, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and armed street robbery, as well as several individuals convicted of rape.