San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to designate the county as a “super sanctuary” jurisdiction, further limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including in cases involving violent crimes committed by illegal aliens.
The resolution, which aligns with California’s 2017 “California Values Act,” restricts state and local law enforcement from coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless a judicial warrant is presented. The Act was originally passed to counter the immigration enforcement policies of former President Donald Trump.
Supporters of the resolution argue it protects due process and prevents racial profiling. Critics, however, claim the policy prioritizes shielding illegal aliens over public safety, particularly in cases involving violent offenders.
The measure reflects ongoing debates across the country over local government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and its impact on community safety and individual rights.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, the lone dissenting vote in the board’s 3-1 decision to become a “super sanctuary” jurisdiction, strongly criticized the policy. Desmond called it “an affront to every citizen who values safety and justice,” emphasizing that it shields illegal aliens who have committed “violent and heinous crimes.”
Meanwhile, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez has stated that she will not enforce the board’s new policy. As an independently elected official, Sheriff Martinez said her department operates separately from the board of supervisors and retains its own jurisdiction.
Without opposing California’s broader “sanctuary state” law, Martinez highlighted that the law permits local law enforcement to communicate with federal authorities about violent offenders. She affirmed that her office would continue collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in such cases, regardless of the board’s stance.
The sheriff’s position sets up a potential conflict between her department’s enforcement practices and the new county resolution, which further restricts cooperation with federal immigration officials.
