Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The sheriff of the fifth-largest county in the U.S. took a stand on Tuesday against a newly established policy aimed at curtailing collaboration with federal immigration authorities, creating a conflict regarding the challenges facing President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation strategies.
Earlier that day, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to prevent the sheriff’s department from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the enforcement of civil immigration laws, including deportations. Although California law generally restricts such cooperation, it does allow exceptions for individuals convicted of specific violent crimes.
“We refuse to let our local resources be misused for actions that separate families, undermine community trust, or divert essential local resources from tackling our most critical issues,” stated Nora Vargas, who, along with two other Democratic supervisors, supported the policy.
In response, Sheriff Kelly Martinez asserted that the board does not dictate policy for her office, as she is also an elected official. She made it clear that she would not comply with the new directive.
“Current state law appropriately balances limiting local law enforcement’s collaboration with immigration authorities while ensuring public safety and fostering community trust,” Martinez remarked. Although her office identifies as nonpartisan, she has been affiliated with the Democratic Party.
With a population of 3.3 million and its position along the U.S.-Mexico border, San Diego County is among the more significant local governments enhancing protections for individuals living in the country without authorization. Meanwhile, several states and counties are preparing to support Trump’s deportation initiatives.
The resources at ICE’s disposal for executing the mass deportations sought by Trump are limited. Consequently, the agency will heavily depend on local sheriffs to notify them of individuals in custody and to potentially detain them temporarily if requested, allowing federal officials time to arrest these individuals on immigration-related charges.
Trump’s border chief, Tom Homan, has pointed to San Diego as a location where the upcoming administration’s agendas may be hindered by “sanctuary” laws— a term used for local and state governments that impose restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Homan stated on Fox News Channel that laws preventing ICE from accessing county jails “put the community at risk.” Unlike San Diego, he plans to meet with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat interested in potential collaboration.
This new policy aligns San Diego with seven other California counties, including Los Angeles, which recently implemented a policy that exceeds state mandates, according to Vargas.
Jim Desmond, the sole opposing voice, argued that the policy would protect individuals convicted of violent offenses, referencing the 2015 shooting death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle in San Francisco and other notorious incidents involving individuals unlawfully present in the country.
“These tragedies could have been avoided, yet sanctuary laws facilitate such incidents by allowing illegal offenders to return to our communities instead of being turned over to ICE,” asserted Desmond, a Republican.
Vargas indicated that “a loophole” in state law permitted sheriffs to collaborate with ICE under specific conditions concerning individuals convicted of violent crimes, leading to the county transferring 100 to 200 individuals annually to immigration authorities. Now, ICE will require a judge’s order to receive assistance from the county.
Before the vote, Martinez, who has mostly refrained from discussing immigration policies, took umbrage at Vargas’ labeling of the state law as a “loophole.” She emphasized that California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, has thwarted attempts to impose stricter limits on cooperation with ICE.
