Updates from Rep. Bill Herbkersman

I want to thank the Bluffton Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff’s office and the US Marshall's Service for all of their parts in the apprehension of the MS-13 Gang member. Eric Bonilla, wanted for six murders and terrorist threats, was apprehended due to the bravery and quick thinking of the Bluffton police and was aided by the US Marshall Service and Beaufort County Sheriff’s office.

In politics, I try to bring both sides of the aisle together, I always have. In addition, I have always been straight forward and done my best to represent all of the constituents of this district, these counties and this state. What I have to say here is not intended to be divisive, but is intended to bring us together for the sake of our families, our area and our state. A couple of points we need to bring home, some of which you may agree to and some of you may disagree with - it's your right but this is a fact-based column.

You can agree or disagree with the Biden administration’s six-month report card of high fuel prices, high food prices, and his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. On the latter, I question what he would have done differently if he was working WITH the Taliban, but I'll leave that for a different discussion. I know all of these policies and decisions have affected the American public. Biden’s open border policy, in my mind, is the most egregious. For the record, I have been of being very pro legal immigration and have voted for dreamers’ issues here in SC.

We saw our brave men and women in blue apprehend the Bluffton MS-13 Gang member, Eric Bonilla, wanted for the six murders and terrorists’ threats come at a time when some on the radical left want to defund the police. This comes at a time when the Biden administration and radical left attempts at open, unvetted borders. The only results we have seen nationally from open borders is unvetted, illegal immigrants crossing the borders with no mandate for vaccine and no background checks. Sounds like national sensationalism until it hits this close to home.

We have a well-trained, trustworthy, community oriented, professional police force that fortunately took care of this threat. How many more MS-13 gang members possibly live in this community? How many more MS-13 gang members live in this state? How many more live in this country? If the borders are unsecured it puts every man woman and child at risk. Think of the families that lived close to this MS-13 gang member. Think of the houses he had access to as a worker here in Beaufort County. Does this open border policy make sense for your safety and the safety of your family and neighbors? When a policy or an administration is failing, we as a nation need to have the collective wisdom and fortitude to call it and end it.

This is not a hammering of the Democrats, I believe the Kennedy Democrats would agree. This is a call out for those who want to compromise our community with dangerous open border policies, anti-law enforcement sentiments and anti-middle class family actions, such as we've seen in the past seven months.

I will do my part as your elected representative to always support law enforcement, to always support the safety and wellbeing of our families and our communities and to work with other state leaders to ensure a positive growth and safe environment for all our families. If party politics and Executive policies run contrary to our values and way of life, I'll work hard at the state level to combat those policies and keep our residents safe, free and prosperous.

If you see a Bluffton Police Officer, Beaufort Sheriff's Deputy, Hardeeville or Ridgeland Police Officer or Highway Patrol this week, give them a nod or a thumbs up for the good work they do and acknowledge that they are, often times, what stands between our families’ safety and danger.