In a controversial move that has sparked a heated debate over public safety and immigration enforcement, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 on Tuesday to expand its sanctuary policies, further restricting local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The new policy, which aims to limit interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), applies even in cases where individuals have been charged with serious or “heinous” crimes, such as rape, assault, or child abuse.
The resolution, introduced by Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas, represents a significant escalation of California’s existing sanctuary laws, which already offer considerable protections to immigrants, particularly those in the country illegally. While California’s 2017 California Values Act (often called the sanctuary state law) restricts the sharing of immigration status information with ICE, the new San Diego County policy closes what officials see as a “loophole,” preventing local authorities from notifying ICE about individuals’ release dates or transferring them to federal authorities, even if they have been charged with violent crimes.
She noted that the previous policies allowed ICE to receive notifications and potentially deport individuals even in cases where their criminal charges were “not particularly severe.” The new policy, according to Vargas, aims to “close the loopholes” that enabled such deportations.
However, this shift in policy has been met with strong opposition, particularly from those who view it as a dangerous undermining of public safety. Critics argue that the policy could result in the release of individuals charged with serious crimes into local communities without federal authorities able to take action.
Supervisor Jim Desmond, the lone dissenting vote in the decision, condemned the policy as reckless and dangerous. He argued that by refusing to cooperate with ICE in cases involving serious criminals, San Diego County is effectively turning itself into a “super sanctuary” jurisdiction, shielding dangerous individuals from deportation.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
The newly approved resolution prohibits San Diego County law enforcement from assisting ICE in any way. This includes refusing to provide ICE agents access to individuals in custody, denying them use of county facilities for investigative purposes, and preventing communication about release dates or immigration status. The measure also forbids local authorities from responding to ICE inquiries or assisting in civil immigration enforcement matters.
The ongoing resistance to federal immigration policies has led to a growing showdown between state and local governments and the Trump White House. Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan, who previously served as acting ICE Director under President Trump, has warned sanctuary cities to “get the hell out of the way” and has teased potential consequences for localities that hinder federal immigration enforcement.
Resistance to San Diego’s new “super sanctuary” law is already beginning to mount. Supervisor Desmond has said he is in contact with the incoming administration to explore ways to reverse the policy, and local Sheriff Kelly Martinez has indicated she will not be honoring the new guidelines.
Time for three recall petitions.
ANOTHER NRWS FLASH TO THE CLUSELESS, MEDIOCRE MEDIA
These are ILLEGAL ALIENS – NOT MIGRANTS, by any figment of the imagination. Aren’t you taught anything in Journalism anymore – like checking the meaning words or phrases before printing them?
Arrest the Council members for treason and domestic terrorism
Sure glad I left San Diego and CA in 1993! I was born and raised in Long Beach, came to San Diego when I joined the Navy in 1968 and remained there to meet my lovely wife and have our two children in the early 80’s. By the time my kids were ready to start elementary school in the San Diego Public Schools we knew we had to leave! The public schools were overcrowded 45+ kids in a class with one teacher, no teachers’ assistants and only 36 desks for the kids. No parents allowed on campus without an appointment, no parents allowed to volunteer in the classrooms, guns and drugs being brought to the schools. So a nice move to the South, and NC became our home. So glad we did that as San Diego is just not where we could live anymore. Beautiful place, lots of very good people, but the government is totally lost. Hope Mr Trump and friends can fix this and get rid of the illegals asap. When we lived in San Diego the immigrants would come legally, either as workers with work visas, or as residents planning to stay LEGALLY! Shame everything changed. Good luck Mr. Trump and Team – let’s fix this and Make America Great Again!
I guess the old saying that you get what you vote for is true. And so much for the rule of law. Unfortunately these idiots in charge think they have a never ending pot of money to support all these people. At the rate they are going their next push will be to simply tear down the border and just let anyone in with no obstacles.
Go in and remove these butt heads and incarcerate, They are worthless leaders and worthless to true Americans.
How many times do those of with at least some grasp of reality have to remind everyone that if someone is here ILLEGALLY they are NOT ‘immigrants’ – I don’t wish anything bad on anyone BUT some folks probably won’t change their mind even after they become crime victims. Jocelyn Nungary and Laken Riley are unavailable for comment.