ABSARAKA, N.D. (KFGO) – Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner says it may take a federal search warrant to determine whether people living in a house in Absaraka are in the country illegally.
Jahner’s office was first contacted last month when a landowner who followed a car on his property confronted the driver who suggested that they were illegal immigrants living there. The property owner spotted a gun which was later determined to be a pellet gun.
Jahner says he has to follow the legal process.
“I’ve had some questions [like], ‘why can’t we just go do a search warrant out at this residence?’ A search warrant is a tool for law enforcement to go into someone’s residence (or) onto their property and gather evidence of a crime,” Jahner says. “Some people would say, ‘well, there seems to be a crime here. There seems to be people, based on their admittance that there’s illegal people living in the house.’”
Jahner says his deputies and an agent with Homeland Security Investigations have been to the home, but no one would come to the door. He says he asked the Border Patrol for assistance in finding out whether any of those living in the house are illegal immigrants, but was told that a lack of resources would prevent the federal agency from helping identify them.
Jahner has since been in touch with U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider who has offered to help convince federal agencies to become involved.
“This is an open investigation and operation at this point,” Jahner says. “I’m working with the citizens in Absaraka and some of the township board members to try to investigate the situation and come up with an operational plan going forward, so that we can conclude this.”
It’s believed those living in the house are construction workers.
Why can’t landowner insist on search of his property? Or calling law enforcement for squatters/living somewhere without authorization….?
This is truly disturbing. If the property iwner wants out the sheriff should be obligated to remove them, thus is North Dakota not New York. What is going on here?
This is truly disturbing. If the property owner wants them out the sheriff should be obligated to remove them, this is North Dakota not New York. What is going on here?
Where are they working? That bussiness should get some serious pushback also.
A landlord cannot just have the cops do searches of their leased out properties because they want them to. This is protected under our 4th amendment. There is not enough evidence for a search warrant by a long shot. There has to be solid evidence for a warrant to be issued to enter a persons property. I don’t answer the door when cops are knocking on it, that means I don’t trust the police force or their intentions. It does not mean I’m an illegal immigrant or I am harboring one. Innocent until proven guilty not the opposite (no matter what the other commenters have to say)