San Diego Sheriff Stands Strong, Defies the Board!
In a bold move against a controversial resolution, the San Diego Sheriff's department has openly defied the San Diego Board of Supervisors, who voted 3-1 to enact what has been described as the most radical sanctuary policy in California. This policy, which even the state's extremely Leftist Attorney General felt was excessive, aims to restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing significant backlash from various quarters.
As expected, the Sheriff's office responded with a firm statement just hours after the vote:
Sheriff Kelly A. Martinez further clarified the legal stance in a press release:
“There is no loophole in the state statute” preventing law enforcement from notifying ICE about release dates for criminal illegal immigrants. “State law allows for the Sheriff’s Office to share release dates for individuals who are in Sheriff’s custody only if they have qualifying convictions for specific serious, violent, or sex crimes,” Martinez said. “Government Code 7282.5 gives the authority for law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities, as prescribed. This includes the ability to provide information on individuals who have certain convictions which include but are not limited to sexual abuse, child abuse, battery, assault, possession, sale, distribution, manufacture or trafficking of controlled substances.”
This defiance by the Sheriff underscores a significant rift between local law enforcement's operational independence and the political agendas of the county's elected supervisors. The move by the Board has sparked debate over who they truly serve—their constituents or their ideological and financial backers.
Chairman Norma Vargas (D), who led the charge for the resolution, defended it by stating:
“Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and our county will not be a tool for policies that hurt our residents.”
However, her stance appears to contradict the practical implications of the policy, which could potentially release violent offenders back into the community. Vargas also criticized what she called "misinformation" during the board meeting, but it seems this misinformation stems from her own office and aligned groups, which organized extensive public support for the resolution.
Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, who cast the sole vote against the policy, labeled it as making San Diego County a “super sanctuary county” and an “affront to every law-abiding citizen.”
“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,” Desmond said. “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.”
Amidst this policy clash, Christine Reagan of Act for America, part of Reclaim San Diego, led a significant public and digital opposition, amassing 242,799 emails and speakers in opposition:
"Clearly, Chairman Vargas, Vice Chair Lawson-Remer, and Supervisor Steppe rushed this resolution through before the public could have their say, orchestrating political theater in cahoots with local 'No Border' non-profits to misrepresent the will of San Diegans. They've blatantly ignored the overwhelming support from our community for the Trump mandate to enforce border and immigration laws and the urgent need for massive deportation. This radical resolution is nothing short of political suicide for these three. It's time for San Diego to clean house, drain its swamp, and ensure that these bad actors are never allowed to serve in public office again—vote them out!"
The battle lines are drawn in San Diego, with the Sheriff's refusal to yield to the Board's decision highlighting a broader struggle over local governance, public safety, and adherence to state and federal law.
It’s time to Reclaim San Diego!
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