Vargas puts forward immigration policy
County Chairwoman's policy would prevent local law enforcement from coordinating with federal agencies over undocumented immigrants putting the county at odds with Trump Administration.
COUNTY — A proposed immigration policy update aims to give illegal or undocumented immigrants cover from being contacted and turned over to federal authorities for deportation.
San Diego County Chairwoman Nora Vargas has put forward a board policy on immigration enforcement to enhance community safety for Tuesday’s meeting. Vargas’s policy, which mimics one passed by Santa Clara County in 2019, would prevent the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department from active cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal agencies.
The policy also prevents law enforcement from notifying ICE of release dates of immigrants and allowing federal law enforcement to use county facilities for investigative interviews or other purposes.
However, the proposed policy states it does not limit or prohibit assistance with the investigative activities of any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency relating to suspected violations of criminal laws, according to the policy.
“When federal immigration authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Border Patrol, coerces local law enforcement to carry out deportations, family members are separated and community trust in law enforcement and local government is destroyed,” the policy reads. “Witnesses and victims who are undocumented or who have loved ones who are undocumented are afraid to come to the county for help, which includes calling local law enforcement. This puts the public safety of all San Diegans at risk.”
(Below is the board agenda and the issue is item 29 and starts on page 51.)
The action comes on the heels of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta’s plan to “Trump proof” California, after Trump announced a mass deportation plan, according to reports. Trump’s presidential campaign focused on immigration, which was one of the top issues during the presidential campaign.
The state’s campaign includes $25 million in attorney fees to defend individuals facing deportation.
The Los Angeles City Council adopted its sanctuary city ordinance on Wednesday. It bars the collection or sharing of information on a person's immigration status in the process of carrying out immigration-related arrests or deportations and bans local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration officials in such efforts, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The amended version of the ordinance created exceptions for the investigation, arrest and detention of immigrants in the U.S. illegally when they have been previously deported due to convictions for aggravated felonies — an exception outlined in California Government Code Section 7284.6(b)(1), the outlet reported.
“We cannot use any of our staff to enforce federal immigration law, or their time,” said LA City Council member Eunisses Hernandez, who sponsored the measure, per CBS L.A. “So that means we are not going to be doing the bidding or the work of federal immigration departments and agencies to separate families.”
Vargas’ policy, meanwhile, builds on the TRUST Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2013, and protects immigrants from being detained by local law enforcement under immigration holds by ICE. A federal court found all immigration holds were unconstitutional, but ICE circumvented the law by requesting local law enforcement notify the agency of personal information, such as release time and locations, according to the policy.
The Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act of 2016 built on the TRUST Act by notifying detained individuals when ICE requests an interview and allowing them to choose whether or not to take the interview, keeping record of the requests, and holding a public forum annually to inform the public and allowing them to provide feedback on how the department is engaging with federal immigration agencies.
In 2017, Brown signed Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, by prohibiting local resources from being used to deport undocumented immigrants and preventing local law enforcement from notifying ICE of release dates and transferring individuals to ICE.
“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 policy reads. “Eight other California Counties have recognized this as a problem and have already taken action to stop ICE transfers and notifications in their regions.”
In 2021, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved $5 million annually to provide legal representation for undocumented immigrants. Vargas, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher supported the allocation, while Supervisors Jim Desmond and Joel Anderson voted no.
Additionally, the county recently opened two immigrant and refugee centers — one in Escondido and one in San Diego. The services include resettlement assistance, legal aid, employment support, family health, wellness and access to CalWORKS, Medi-Cal and CalFresh, according to the county.
Critics of the policy include Desmond, who said the policy is reckless and jeopardizes the safety of residents, along with providing free services and housing for non-citizens. Other concerns are allowing Mexican cartels to continue human trafficking operations and money collection from those crossing the border.
There are also concerns the Trump Administration will withhold federal funds from states, cities or counties enacting sanctuary policies for undocumented or illegal immigrants.
“Sanctuary policies are reckless and dangerous, putting innocent lives at risk,” Desmond added. “Every American family deserves safety. No community should suffer the heartbreak of losing a loved one due to politically driven policies that protect criminals instead of holding them accountable.”
On Friday, border tensions reached a boiling point when a 59-year-old Border Patrol agent struck a suspected cartel member attempting to cross the border in a “smuggling event” in San Diego, Ali Bradley of News Nation reported. As a result, Mexican cartel leaders have ordered their members to retaliate against agents in the San Diego sector by shooting at them.
Border Patrol is on high alert and taking the threats seriously, News Nation reported. According to reports in October, the Sinaloa Cartel allowed its members to fire at Border Patrol agents.
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San Diego Chairwoman Nora Vargas should be promptly impeached for refusing to follow the law. She should also be criminally investigated, indicted and, if found guilty, thrown in jail where she cannot damage San Diego. San Diegans should STOP voting for these low IQ, and immoral people, who break the law, like this woman.