Last week, I shared with you that my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 (I was the lone no vote) to designate San Diego County as a "Super Sanctuary County".
But what does this new designation mean, and how does it impact our community?
To fully understand, we must first look at California's current sanctuary state law. While I fundamentally disagree with this law, it does include an important provision: local law enforcement can notify ICE when individuals who entered the country illegally and have committed severe crimes—such as rape, stalking, child abuse, gang violence, or burglary—are about to be released. This was a reasonable measure to protect our communities from dangerous felons.
However, the Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate this provision, referring to it as a "loophole". Under the new policy, even if an illegal immigrant commits crimes like rape, stalking, or child abuse, local law enforcement will no longer notify or cooperate with ICE, even while the individual is in custody.
This decision isn’t hypothetical. In 2023 alone, there were 25 ICE transfers in San Diego County involving serious crimes like kidnapping, burglary, and DUI. These transfers allowed law enforcement to work together to deport dangerous criminals, keeping our communities safe. Last week’s vote seeks to end this process entirely.
This reckless policy endangers the safety of San Diego families and neighborhoods. Instead of protecting our residents, it prioritizes dangerous political agendas over public safety.
I remain committed to standing against these extreme measures and advocating for policies that prioritize the safety and security of our communities.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep San Diego safe.