CA Fracturing: San Diego, Escondido Dive Into Sanctuary Debate

image
Author: Jeff Powers
Published: 29 Mar, 2018
Updated: 21 Nov, 2022
2 min read

Following up on the 4-0 vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to join a lawsuit from the Trump administration fighting the state's "sanctuary city" laws, the Counties of San Diego and Escondido are now wading into the Sanctuary State Debate.

The County of San Diego has docketed a closed session hearing on the same issue for April 17.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob is leading the effort. In an interview on KOGO AM-600 with Carl DeMaio Jacob noted, "It will be in closed session and I'm not certain we have the 3 votes necessary to pass this, but it's important our federal law enforcement partners know that we stand with them in their efforts to keep our community safe." The board doesn’t discuss lawsuits openly, but any decision would become a matter of public record.

Escondido Mayor Sam Abed has put the item on the April 4 agenda. In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune Abed said, “I expect it to pass.”

SB-54 Targeted

Senate Bill 54 prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials when they have unauthorized immigrants in their custody who could be subject to deportation.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has hailed SB-54 as the law of the land and contends state law supercedes federal enforcement. Becerra said, "State law is state law. It’s my job to enforce state law and I will do so. We want to make sure that every jurisdiction, including Orange County, understands what state law requires of the people and the subdivisions of the state of California."

Becerra tweeted his thoughts about the Trump administration's lawsuit:

https://twitter.com/AGBecerra/status/979105722951720960

Sheriff's Take Different Approaches

Clearly law enforcement jurisdictions are tackling this issue in differnt ways.

IVP Donate

On March 26, a “Who’s in Jail” online database that includes the date and time of inmates’ release was posted by the Orange County Sheriff's department.

The agency says the move will improve communication with its federal (ICE) law enforcement partners. Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes said, “This is in response to SB-54 limiting our ability to communicate with federal authorities and our concern that criminals are being released to the street when there’s another avenue to safeguard the community by handing them over to ICE."

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, who is running for reelection, does not think San Diego county should get involved in the administration's lawsuit against the state's sanctuary poliies. "I'd tell them stay out of it … that would be my recommendation," he said in an interview Wednesday.

Latest articles

CA capitol building dome with flags.
Why is CA Senator Mike McGuire Trying to Kill the Legal Cannabis Industry?
California’s legal cannabis industry is under mounting pressure, and in early June, state lawmakers and the governor appeared poised to help. A bill to freeze the state’s cannabis excise tax at 15% sailed through the State Assembly with a unanimous 74-0 vote. The governor’s office backed the plan. And legal cannabis businesses, still struggling to compete with unregulated sellers and mounting operating costs, saw a glimmer of hope....
03 Jul, 2025
-
7 min read
I voted buttons
After First RCV Election, Charlottesville Voters Back the Reform: 'They Get It, They Like It, They Want to Do It Again'
A new survey out of Charlottesville, Virginia, shows overwhelming support for ranked choice voting (RCV) following the city’s first use of the system in its June Democratic primary for City Council. Conducted one week after the election, the results found that nearly 90% of respondents support continued use of RCV....
03 Jul, 2025
-
3 min read
Crowd in Time Square.
NYC Exit Survey: 96% of Voters Understood Their Ranked Choice Ballots
An exit poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the nonprofit better elections group FairVote finds that ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to be supported by a vast majority of voters who find it simple, fair, and easy to use. The findings come in the wake of the city’s third use of RCV in its June 2025 primary elections....
01 Jul, 2025
-
6 min read