San Juan County Sheriff’s Office officials say undocumented immigrants should not be afraid to call the department and report crimes, but an advocacy group says immigrants can’t trust the agency because of its association with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Capt. Brice Current said Sheriff’s Office employees do not ask about immigration status when they respond to reported crimes or when immigrants go to the Sheriff’s Office building to report crimes. “That’s not our job,” Current said. “Our job is to enforce the law.”
Judge Denies U.S. Claim on 2 of 3 California Immigration Laws
U.S. District Judge John Mendez dismissed the federal government’s claim that U.S. law trumps two California laws intended to protect immigrants who are in the country illegally. The ruling follows his decision that California was within its rights to pass two of the three so-called sanctuary laws.
Mendez rejected the U.S. government’s argument on two of the laws that the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government pre-eminent power to regulate immigration. On the other hand, he ruled that the federal government could proceed with its attempt to block part of a third California sanctuary law, which prohibits employers from allowing immigration officials on their property without warrants.
The Trump administration argued that California is obstructing immigration enforcement efforts.
