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Pinal County, Arizona – Actor Dean Cain, known for his role as Superman in the 1990s television series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” has been sworn in as a special deputy U.S. Marshal in Pinal County, Arizona, on August 9, 2025. The appointment, made by Pinal County Sheriff mark Lamb, has drawn both support and criticism, including online attacks from fellow actor John Leguizamo.
I’m honored & humbled to be deputized as a Special Deputy US Marshal in Pinal County, Arizona! I’m ready to serve & protect! ๐บ๐ธhttps://t.co/wJ9wJq9w9q
– Dean Cain (@DeanCain) August 9, 2025
Sheriff Lamb, a vocal advocate for border security, initiated the special deputy program in July 2024, aiming to bolster law enforcement resources in the county, which shares a 185-mile border with Mexico. Pinal County has experienced a important increase in illegal border crossings in recent years, with a 47% rise in encounters reported by Customs and Border Protection in fiscal year 2024 compared to 2023. The program allows vetted individuals with law enforcement backgrounds to assist U.S. Marshals in non-traditional roles, including fugitive apprehension and support during large-scale operations.
Cain,59,has been a reserve deputy sheriff and police officer in various capacities for approximately ten years,including service with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona and the Nevada Highway patrol. He stated he was inspired to join law enforcement following the rise of the “Defund the Police” movement in 2020,seeking to actively support law enforcement efforts. He emphasized he will donate the $50,000 signing bonus to charity if compelled to accept it.
the actor expressed a firm stance against illegal immigration,especially by individuals with criminal records. “stay at your own risk if your here illegally. Especially if you’re a criminal. We’re going to find you,” Cain stated. He referenced the cases of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl allegedly murdered by two Venezuelan nationals in December 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, and Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed in February 2024 by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, on the University of Georgia campus. Ibarra had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was the subject of a federal immigration detainer request.
Cain also indicated he would not conceal his identity while on duty, stating, “I would not wear a mask. I’m out and proud. So its clear who I am. And I know it makes me a target. My parents don’t like that.” He drew a parallel to Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran who was involved in a fatal altercation on a New York City subway in may 2023, stating, “Good Samaritans stand upโฆPenny stood up and protected people on the subway. He got vilified