San Diego County doubled down on its existing sanctuary policy by voting to further restrict local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, even in cases where migrants have been charged with “heinous crimes.”
In a 3-1 vote on Tuesday, members of the Democrat-controlled San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to further restrict local law enforcement’s ability to assist or communicate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in the jurisdiction, which could include instances where a migrant has been charged with rape, assault, child abuse or other serious crimes.
“While the California Values Act significantly expanded protection from deportation to California residents, it fell short of protecting all residents because it allowed agencies to still notify ICE of release dates and transfers individuals to ICE without a warrant in some circumstances,” Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas wrote in her proposed policy. “This loophole has allowed the transfer of some individuals to ICE and notifications to ICE of release dates, leading to the deportation of our community members and the separation of families in our region.”
The “circumstances” in which ICE could be notified included illegal migrants who’ve committed serious and heinous crimes, according to opponents of the new rule.
Supervisor Jim Desmond, the lone dissenter in Tuesday’s vote, framed the resolution as a “dangerous” measure that turns San Diego County into a “super” sanctuary jurisdiction.
“This reckless measure not only goes far beyond California’s already extreme Sanctuary State laws but actively endangers our communities by shielding illegal immigrant criminals from deportation. Consider this: under this policy, law enforcement is prohibited from notifying ICE about individuals, in custody, who have committed violent and heinous crimes, including: Rape and stalking, Assault and battery, Burglary, Child abuse and more,” Desmond said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The resolution calls for San Diego County to no longer assist the agency by not providing ICE agents access to any illegal migrant or allowing them use of county facilities for investigative purposes or other purposes, not responding to ICE inquiries or communicating with the agency regarding an illegal migrant’s release date, or otherwise help in any civil immigration enforcement matter.
The vote in San Diego County follows action by a growing number of Democrat-led cities and localities across the country that wish to place obstacles in front of Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, despite the president-elect winning November’s election largely on a hardline immigration platform. Los Angeles approved an ordinance officially making it a sanctuary city, Boston lawmakers voted to reaffirm their city’s sanctuary status and a number of Democrat mayors and governors have come out publicly against the idea of helping the president-elect enforce his plans for mass deportations.
Democrats’ slate of sanctuary city laws and declarations of defiance could lead to a showdown with the Trump White House. Incoming border czar Tom Homan, who previously served as acting ICE director during the first Trump administration, openly warned them to “get the hell out of the way” and teased consequences if Democrats attempt to obstruct enforcement of immigration law.
Resistance to San Diego County’s new “super” sanctuary law appears to already be brewing. Desmond said he is in contact with the incoming administration on how to undo it, and San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez signaled she would not be honoring the policy.
“Let me be crystal clear — this policy means that an illegal immigrant who has committed one of these appalling crimes will now walk free on our streets, once they serve their jail sentence, protected by County policies, with no coordination with ICE,” Desmond continued.
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