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Sacramento Sheriff: Immigration Message to President Obama Was Nonpartisan

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Sacramento County Sheriff made a plea to President Barack Obama to take care of the country's immigration crisis, and it is not sitting well with everyone.

On Tuesday, Scott Jones sent a video to the president, just two days before a national address on immigration reform.

Jones' pleas stem from the death of two deputies that were allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant.

The strongly worded video is now gaining national attention.

The 8-minute message features Jones pleading with the president to flex his political muscle and move toward meaningful immigration reform after the deaths of Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff's Det. Michael Davis.

A Message From Sheriff Scott Jones by Sacramento Sheriff on YouTube

Jones told CBS13 on Wednesday that his message is nonpartisan and he isn't against immigration. He's fine with multiple pathways to legal status.

"This was intended as its essence to the start of a national discussion," Jones said. "I'm trying to assist the undocumented population who have lived in the shadows of this country and this state."

But UC Davis law school dean and immigration attorney Kevin Johnson says Jones' message could come off as divisive and may actually hurt his relationship with migrant communities.

"In some ways, some would say its nothing less than shameful," Johnson said. "It's less likely they're going to report crimes, its less likely they're going to feel that they can trust that Sacramento County Sheriff's office to treat them fairly."

Jones says his deputies are instructed not to enforce immigration law, and everyone should feel safe reporting crime.

"This is not about racism; it is about an increasingly violent and uncertain world," Jones said.

He hopes others make similar video messages to start a movement.

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