San Diego County is preparing to vote on a resolution that would significantly restrict its cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move comes shortly before the anticipated launch of a large-scale deportation campaign by the Trump administration and goes beyond California's existing sanctuary law.
The resolution, scheduled for a vote on December 10th, is framed as part of the county's commitment to social justice and inclusion. It stipulates that the county will not assist ICE in various ways, including denying access to individuals, refusing use of county facilities, limiting communication about incarceration status or release dates, and generally refraining from participating in civil immigration enforcement activities.
The resolution's overview argues that involving local law enforcement in deportations leads to family separation and erodes community trust. It also contends that undocumented individuals and their families become hesitant to seek help from local authorities, impacting public safety.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas believes California’s current sanctuary laws are insufficient, claiming they contain a loophole that permits notification of ICE regarding release dates and transfers in certain cases. She aims to close this perceived gap with the new resolution, mirroring a 2019 policy adopted in Santa Clara County.
Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond opposes the resolution, predicting its passage due to the board's Democratic majority. He criticizes the move as a reactive measure that will hinder interagency cooperation and negatively impact community safety by potentially enabling more criminal activity among undocumented individuals.
This development in San Diego follows similar actions in other jurisdictions, including Boston, where the city council recently voted to restrict police cooperation with ICE. Conversely, some Republican-led states have expressed their intention to support the Trump administration's deportation efforts, with Texas even offering land for the operation.
