By Tomas Apodaca and Nigel Duara, CalMatters
President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to ramp up immigration enforcement could put California’s 58 elected sheriffs in the hot seat because of their responsibility to manage local jails. CalMatters surveyed all of California’s sheriff’s about how they plan to navigate the complexities in local, state and federal immigration laws. Here’s what they told us.
CalMatters reached out to the sheriffs by email and website contact forms. When those weren’t available, we called the contact number on their website. Two county sheriffs’ offices — Monterey and San Mateo — did not return calls seeking comment.
For months, Trump allies have signaled that they’d focus initial immigration enforcement on undocumented people who have committed crimes. This month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would empower immigration agencies to deport people arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft and shoplifting. The bill is expected to pass the Senate.
During the previous Trump administration, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed a so-called sanctuary law that limits how local enforcement agencies interact with federal immigration officers. At the time, several sheriffs from inland counties criticized the law and embraced Trump’s immigration policies.
This article was originally published by CalMatters.
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DOLLIE – “The Sheriff may/may not like it but he will obey all laws as required.”
Right, they (some are women) will obey CA law, as they are stating here. It’s literally what this article is about.
Deporting criminals is a no brainer.
RUBY – exactly. And CA law allows for convicted criminals to be deported. That’s not the concern here. The concern is that Trump is clearly going after ALL immigrants, even those trying to enter LEGALLY. CA Sheriffs are simply complying with state law that allows them to refuse to cooperate with ICE in certain situations, such as pulling children from school and church.
The problem is that the Laken Riley Law allows for deportation of people who have only been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting. In our country, you are not a criminal until you are CONVICTED of a crime…not just arrested.
Precisely, and yet the Sheriff of Riverside Co, Chad Bianco, wants to “work around” state law, -thank goodness CA passed SB 54!- and deport any undocumented person who lands in his jail, innocent or guilty. He laments having to “just let them go”, when in fact the only reason he is releasing people from jail is because they are either innocent or they have served their time.
Stand fast and hold strong, Sheriffs! It’s up to the good people of this country to stand up to fascism, racism and hate.
Interesting that Bill Brown chose not to respond. Why’s that big billy?
Resist the fascists.
Excellently put BOARDER76!!
… said a known racist fascist.
Without the survey questions and possible responses this article is worthless.