A new immigration policy adopted by the US San Diego County Board of Supervisors was supposed to stop jails from working with federal immigration officials, a move that would potentially hinder President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations.
But the county is now locked in a standoff in what could be a preview of local immigration politics after Trump retakes office in January.
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said that her office would not adhere to the county's policy and that it would continue notifying officials of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement whenever some of those people not authorized to be in the country were being released from county jails, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
"The sheriff, as an elected public official, determines the direction of the sheriff's operations," the office said in a statement hours after the board approved the policy. "The sheriff has inherent and exclusive authority to provide county jails."
"The stalemate comes as some California jurisdictions are bracing for Trump's promise on deportations and adopting policies designed to protect immigrant communities. Some California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, said they are readying for legal fights against the incoming administration," the report said.
The clash between the majority of San Diego County's Board of Supervisors and its sheriff also illustrates how -- even in California, a sanctuary state -- efforts to undermine the Trump administration's deportation plans could face legal challenges, practical hurdles and clashes when local officials disagree, it added.
Martinez and most of the supervisors are Democrats, but local law enforcement officials sometimes have pushed back against policies that would reduce their cooperation with federal law enforcement. In San Diego, it's unclear how county officials and the Sheriff's Office intend to go forward.
In a statement to The Times, Martinez reiterated her decision not to follow the board policy. She declined to be interviewed.
The statement said, "We do not plan to seek legal action against the County over the Board's policy." However, "I want to assure the public that the Sheriff's Office will continue to follow existing state law and maintain our current practices, which reflect years of experience in balancing public safety with community trust," it added.
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