Controversial ICE Halloween display in Mobile County sheriff’s front yard

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A Halloween display in the front yard of Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch is causing controversy.

The display depicts an ICE raid, showing skeletons wearing ICE shirts supposedly chasing other skeletons wearing sombreros and ponchos climbing over a fence.

FOX10 News has just received this statement from Michelle Burch, the sheriff’s wife.

One Mobile resident, who wants to remain anonymous, doesn’t like the display.

“Elected officials, just like all of us, have the freedom of speech. That’s what makes our country great is our freedoms. However, elected officials set the tone for our city, and the tone that sets is one of disrespect. It’s racism, it’s racial profiling.”

While some aren’t fans of what Michelle Burch says is tongue-in-cheek Halloween decorations, others like Tim Turner told me “I think it’s great!! That’s his property. Him or his wife should do whatever they want on their property.”

It’s unclear when the display was put up, but on Oct. 1, Burch defended one of his deputies for punching a suspected illegal immigrant while he was face down on the ground. Burch said Henry Castilo ran from deputies and tried to fight them, and wouldn’t put one of his hands behind his back. The sheriff says the deputy didn’t do anything wrong

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch defends deputy after controversial arrest

“If you comply, this isn’t gonna happen, and the other individuals, yes, they ran, but they complied once deputies caught them,” Burch said. “There was no further engagement, but if you fight my deputies, we’re gonna win cause my job is to make sure they go home.”

Michelle Burch said the sheriff had nothing to do with the display, other than mowing the grass around it.

Michelle Burch added in her statement she will be making a new display shortly and says they have no shortage of topics to cover.

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