In a bold move, the sheriff of San Diego county has challenged a new policy restricting county collaboration with federal immigration authorities, sparking a clash over California’s stance against Donald Trump’s deportation agenda.
Recently, San Diego county supervisors voted to bar its sheriff’s department from cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) on enforcing civil immigration laws that could lead to deportations.
While California law already limits cooperation with exceptions for certain violent offenders, the new policy aligns San Diego with seven other counties in California, including Los Angeles, which has taken an even stricter approach than state regulations.
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Nora Vargas emphasized that local resources should not be used to separate families or undermine community trust. She stood alongside two fellow Democrats on the board of supervisors in approving the policy.
However, Sheriff Kelly Martinez made it clear that she does not have to abide by the board’s decisions as an independently elected official. She expressed her intention not to comply with the new directive.
Martinez highlighted that current state law strikes a balance between limiting cooperation with immigration authorities while ensuring public safety and fostering community trust. Despite her nonpartisan office status, she leans towards Democratic ideals.
With Ice facing resource constraints for mass deportations under Trump’s directives, local sheriffs play a crucial role in notifying and temporarily holding individuals for federal apprehension on immigration charges.
2024-12-11 13:09:31
Source from www.theguardian.com