We wouldn't blame Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne if he threw up his hands in disgust and decided that if no one else is interested in arresting illegal immigrants, he shouldn't be, either.
That probably is taking the situation a bit too far. After all, Burgoyne is supposed to uphold the law, regardless of whether others do their jobs. Fortunately, he has done just that concerning illegal immigrants.
At one time, Burgoyne couldn't even get the federal Immigration Control and Enforcement agency to take illegals arrested here seriously. That situation seems to have been brought under control.
But last week, a sheriff's deputy making a routine traffic stop apprehended two illegal immigrants. One of them is wanted in DeKalb County, Ga. for what Burgoyne described as "failure to appear in court on a dangerous drug charge."
Local authorities contacted their counterparts in Georgia - and received, in effect, a "so what?" response. Burgoyne said DeKalb County officials do not plan to extradite the suspect. "They didn't want to spend the money to send someone and get him down there," the sheriff explained.
We trust that would not happen here. A fugitive from justice in Ohio County, if accused of a major crime, would be extradited as quickly as police and prosecutors could make it happen, we believe.
Again, however, the fiasco must be frustrating to Burgoyne and his deputies.
We encourage them to remember that public opinion here in Ohio County has been behind them solidly whenever they apprehend illegal immigrants - whether they are fugitives or not.
It's too bad residents of some other areas are not as demanding - and supportive - of their law enforcement agencies.