KNOXVILLE - Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones on Wednesday denounced "an inept administration" that has declined his proposal to train local officers on enforcing federal immigration laws.

"Once again, the federal government has used sequestration as a smokescreen to shirk its responsibilities for providing safety and security to its citizens by denying Knox County the 287(g) corrections model," Jones said in a statement.

"An inept administration is clearing the way for law breaking illegal immigrants to continue to thrive in our community and ultimately be allowed to reside in the United States.

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