Sheriff John Urquhart: Trump’s comments are not helpful

President Donald Trump gave a blistering speech condemning gang violence last week, specifically targeting MS-13, which he says has turned Long Island into a killing field.

President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have seemed to align in their message against the violent gang, using it as a central argument in the debate over national immigration.

But is the gang problem across the country, including in the Puget Sound region, caused by illegal immigration?

King County Sheriff John Urquhart says no.

“The problem is not caused by illegal immigration,” he told Seattle’s Morning News.

Over the past several months, Seattle and King County has experienced a rise in gun violence. After a few months and a series of arrests, law enforcement officials said they believe they have significantly reduced the violence that was at “unprecedented levels.”

Urquhart said as much.

“I think we do [have a handle on it],” he said. “We certainly had what some called an uptick. It was more than an uptick…”

Though there are tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in King County alone, the crack down on gang violence in King County involved multiple agencies. Urquhart says it’s not fair to just point a finger at undocumented immigrants.

“We are arresting people that are causing criminal mayhem — shootings — and we don’t care if they’re legal or illegal … our job is to arrest people that are shooting other people. And we’re doing a good job of that.”

During the same speech on Friday where President Trump announced efforts to rid the U.S. of a notoriously violent gang, he also appeared to encourage harsh treatment of suspects in front of a crowd of law enforcement officers.

“When you see these towns and when you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in … and I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice,’” President Trump said. “Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over, like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head, I said, ‘You can take the hand away, OK?’”

The crowd applauded. However, police around the country condemned the comment — Urquhart included.

“Certainly, his comments on Friday on roughing up prisoners … that’s not helpful to law enforcement. That’s not helpful to constitutional policing.”

Listen to the entire interview with Urquhart here.