US San Diego politicians want to block Trump deportations, but sheriff refuses
A new immigration policy adopted by the US San Diego County Board of Supervisors was designed to stop jails from collaborating with federal immigration officials, potentially hindering President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
However, the county is now in a standoff, offering a glimpse of what local immigration politics could look like when Trump retakes office in January.
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced that her office would not comply with the county’s policy and would continue to notify US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials when individuals not authorized to be in the country are released from county jails, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“The Sheriff, as an independently elected official, sets the policy for the Sheriff’s Office,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement after the board approved the policy. “The Sheriff has the sole and exclusive authority to operate county jails.”
The standoff highlights how some California jurisdictions are preparing for Trump’s deportation promises and adopting policies to protect immigrant communities. California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, have indicated they are preparing for legal battles against the incoming administration.
This clash between the majority of San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors and its sheriff also demonstrates the challenges to undermining the Trump administration’s deportation plans, even in California, a sanctuary state. It shows how local officials may face legal and practical hurdles, particularly when local law enforcement disagrees with policies meant to limit cooperation with federal authorities.
Both Martinez and the majority of the supervisors are Democrats, but local law enforcement often resists policies that reduce cooperation with federal authorities. It remains unclear how county officials and the Sheriff’s Office will proceed.
In a statement to The Times, Martinez reiterated her decision not to follow the board’s policy. She declined an interview but assured the public that the Sheriff’s Office would continue to follow existing state law and maintain practices that balance public safety with community trust.
