Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman has publicly declared his intention to defy California’s 2017 sanctuary law, SB 54, which limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Sheriff Redman asserts that adhering to this law compromises public safety by preventing the removal of individuals who are in the country illegally and have committed serious crimes. He stated, “How can you tell me that I have to let somebody who is here illegally in the country… and put them back into society when they’ve committed a heinous crime?”
SB 54, known as the California Values Act, restricts local authorities from notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the release of undocumented immigrants, except in cases involving specific offenses.
Sheriff Redman contends that this legislation forces law enforcement to release dangerous individuals back into the community, thereby elevating the risk to public safety. He emphasized, “You’re making me make that choice. Well, I’m just not willing to do it because I got elected to be the sheriff of Amador County, where public safety is my No. 1 priority.”
This stance places Sheriff Redman in direct opposition to California Attorney General Rob Bonta … uphold SB 54, asserting that it is designed to protect immigrant communities and has been upheld by federal courts as consistent with federal law.
Bonta’s office stated: “The Attorney General is committed to protecting and ensuring the rights of California’s immigrant communities and upholding vital laws like SB 54, which ensure that state and local resources go toward fighting crime in California communities, not toward federal immigration enforcement.”
Supporters of Sheriff Redman’s position, including California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin, argue that the sanctuary law hampers law enforcement’s ability to prevent violent crime. Rankin remarked, “What we’re hearing from Sheriff Redman is what many in law enforcement have been saying for a long time: California’s sanctuary state law makes it harder to stop violent criminals.”
Amador County, with a population of approximately 42,000, has about 6% foreign-born residents. Sheriff Redman highlighted issues with illegal marijuana-growing operations linked to undocumented immigrants in the area, stating, “That’s what we dealt with over the last 10 years.”
While other law enforcement agencies in California have sought ways to navigate around SB 54, Sheriff Redman is among the few openly declaring defiance of the law, citing his commitment to public safety and the support of his community.
