I'm appalled by Sheriff Mike Slupe’s comment in the Eagle on July 3 regarding the detainment of Ignacio Carrizalez (“Butler resident released from ICE custody,” Page 1). He said, “Laws are in place to protect the community. The system is in place to adjudicate those laws. I’m glad the system worked.” That is a ridiculous interpretation of the facts of this case.

Let's start with “protecting the community:” Mr. Carrizalez was not at any point accused of harming anyone, yet he was dragged from his vehicle and imprisoned for over two months. No one was protected.

As for “adjudicating the laws:” He was not let go because the law found in his favor (again, he was accused of nothing); in fact, no reason was given for his release. His imprisonment and release were entirely arbitrary.

That is NOT an example of “the system working.” It is neither law nor order. It is an exercise of arbitrary government power that the USA was founded 250 years ago to escape.

Rather than making a facile comment, the sheriff should explain, if he can, how his U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cooperation program will focus on protecting the people of Butler County — not on imprisoning innocent, productive community members like Mr. Carrizalez.

Brittney Scaccia,

Summit Township