North Carolina Lawmaker Challenges Sheriff’s Understanding of Government Structure

During a North Carolina House Oversight Committee hearing, state Rep. Allen Chesser experienced a surprising interaction with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. The exchange was sparked by the recent killing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. Chesser, a Republican, asked the sheriff, who is known for his opposition to cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a seemingly straightforward question: “What branch of government do you operate under?”

Sheriff McFadden initially responded by saying “Mecklenburg County,” which prompted Chesser to clarify his inquiry. Despite further prompting to identify the branch of government he belongs to, McFadden incorrectly identified it as the judicial branch. Chesser pointed out the error, explaining that the sheriff operates under the executive branch.

Chesser asked, “For the sake of debate, let’s say there are three branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial. Of those three, which do you fall under?” McFadden answered, “I believe I fall under the last one … judicial.”

This unexpected detour into a discussion of basic government structure left Chesser remarking that he did not anticipate having to “get into a fifth-grade civics lesson” with an elected sheriff. He expressed concern that the misunderstanding highlighted broader issues regarding enforcement of immigration and state laws.

Chesser pressed McFadden on his responsibilities as part of the executive branch, particularly in relation to his opposition to ICE cooperation. McFadden countered that his past comments critical of enforcing immigration laws were taken out of context, but affirmed his office’s compliance with current state law regarding ICE.

In a subsequent interview, Chesser, an Army veteran and former police officer, described McFadden as a key figure in refusal to enforce immigration laws, highlighting the potential threat to public safety. Chesser stressed that all people in North Carolina should feel safe and assured that the law is uniformly enforced across the state.

The hearing underscored efforts by North Carolina Republicans to reform the criminal justice system, especially in light of tragic events like the death of Iryna Zarutska. North Carolina continues to grapple with immigration enforcement issues and the broader application of state laws.