A recent release from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is mischaracterizing several North Dakota counties as sanctuary jurisdictions, according to the North Dakota Sheriffs & Deputies Association.

Billings, Golden Valley, Grant, Morton, Ramsey, Sioux and Slope are identified by Homeland Security as defying federal immigration law.

“These North Dakota counties strongly believe that this is misinformation and a mischaracterization of how they uphold the rule of law in North Dakota,” the association stated in a news release. “They have worked well with their federal partners and routinely interact with the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement as well as the U.S. Border Patrol on immigration and other criminal matters. The methodology and criteria used to compile this list is unknown. Further these counties have not received communication from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on how to rectify this finding.”

The association stated the elected sheriffs of the named counties object to the language in the Homeland Security release that characterizes them as “deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities.”

“This statement couldn’t be further from the truth,” the association stated. “North Dakota sheriffs strive every day to protect the public as well as holding criminal actors accountable regardless of immigration status. The North Dakota Sheriffs and Deputies Association is working to gather more information regarding the lack of transparency and reasoning as to why the Department of Homeland Security did not fact check prior to incorrectly naming these North Dakota counties.”