Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo, who’s been criticized for his controversial cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check county jail inmates for immigration violations, met with President Donald Trump at the White House and was on Capitol Hill Wednesday urging passage of legislation to improve border security.

Russo is the only sheriff in New York state, to join the 287(g) program run with ICE.

Russo was among 44 sheriffs in Washington D.C. from across the country meeting with congressional representatives and attending a White House roundtable discussion, according to a release issued by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday afternoon.

"We're down here telling Congress to get something done. Create a path for citizenship. You have to prioritize," Russo said Wednesday night in a telephone interview from Washington D.C.

The Republican sheriff met with both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the White House.

Russo was there when Trump was asked about an anonymous New York Times opinion piece written by a member of his staff.

"He just said what he always says -- 'another anonymous source,'" Russo said. " He was joking with us. A blip on the radar. I don't think he lost his cool."

Russo said the sheriffs met with top Border Patrol and ICE leaders as well as administration attorneys.

The sheriffs were attending the discussion hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Topics covered were immigration, border security, "and the critical need for collaboration between local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies," according to the sheriff's office.

“We as sheriffs view this opportunity to push for meaningful immigration reform as a way to uphold our promise and commitment to the people who elected us to protect them,” Russo said in a statement.

Russo’s decision to opt into the ICE program resulted in him going to New York City in April where he was interviewed at Fox studios by Brian Kilmeade on Fox & Friends.

Russo has said the program is another tool to protect county residents. He has emphasized that the program is only happening at the county jail in Troy. The New York Civil Liberties Union and some county residents have condemned Russo's decision to participate.



