A North Carolina House Oversight Committee hearing took an unexpected turn when Rep. Allen Chesser questioned Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden about his understanding of government structure. The hearing was convened in the wake of the fatal shooting of Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.

Chesser asked McFadden, “What branch of government do you operate under?” The sheriff initially responded, “Mecklenburg County,” prompting Chesser to clarify, “I’m asking what branch you fall under.” McFadden then answered incorrectly that he fell under the judicial branch. Chesser corrected him, explaining that the sheriff serves under the executive branch.

Chesser expressed surprise at having to conduct what he called a “fifth-grade civics lesson” with a duly elected official. He said the questioning was meant to establish McFadden’s role in enforcing the law, particularly state mandates requiring cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

McFadden has long opposed cooperating with ICE, but during the hearing, he affirmed that his office is now abiding by state law requiring such cooperation. He stated, “We follow the law, when the law is produced, we follow the law,” while declining to provide additional context for past statements resisting ICE enforcement.

Chesser, an Army veteran and former police officer, said the sheriff has positioned himself as a “centerpiece in the refusal to enforce immigration law” in North Carolina. He added, “It’s not so much the refusal to enforce immigration law, but it’s the refusal to enforce state law that says he must cooperate with ICE and ICE detainers when people are in custody in his facilities.”

The Oversight Committee hearing aimed to ensure consistent enforcement of laws across the state. Chesser emphasized that public safety should not vary by county, stating, “North Carolina is a safe state for all the people who choose to come here…making sure that the law is equally applied and fairly applied across all imaginary lines in our state.”

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.