Clay County investigator focuses on undocumented workers

LIBERTY, Mo. - Sheriff Bob Boydston doesn’t know how many illegal immigrants are in Clay County, but he knows they’re around.

“We know that there are illegal immigrants working jobs here in Clay County and those are jobs that Clay citizens could be using,” said Boydston.

Boydston has hired an immigration investigator for his department. The investigator, who started last month, is cross trained through I.C.E. and the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.

“This is such a specialized area of investigations that it takes someone totally trained, totally committed to just that field of investigation,” said Boydston.

He said his deputies aren’t trained in how to spot illegal immigrants, but this new deputy is.

“This allows us to not violate someone's rights but to investigate illegally activity correctly,” said Boydston.

The undercover investigator said he plans to enforce the law, but also help give undocumented workers a voice.
“Many times they are victims and they don’t speak up,” said the investigator.

Brother James Krause is with an immigration advocate group. He believes the Sherriff’s plan will drive undocumented workers into an underground culture.

“Once you have the police department involved with seeking out, doing the job of the federal government, you're going to have a trust issue,” said Krause.

Krause said the current laws make it nearly impossible for undocumented to workers to become American citizens. He believes the laws need to change.

The sheriff said he will expand the program if county officials see that the program is useful.