San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said she won't follow a law passed by county supervisors prohibiting the sheriff's department from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Martinez said she will be following state law, dismissing what the San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed.
"Current state law strikes the right balance between limiting local law enforcement's cooperation with immigration authorities, ensuring public safety, and building community trust," Martinez said. "State law allows for the Sheriff's Office to share release dates for individuals who are in Sheriff's custody only if they have qualifying convictions for specific serious, violent, or sex crimes."
Martinez pointed out California law gives the authority for law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities. This includes the ability to provide information on individuals who have certain convictions, which include but are not limited to sexual abuse, child abuse, battery, assault, possession, sale, distribution, manufacture, or trafficking of controlled substances, Martinez said.
Martinez said she presented this information to the county board and shared the information with the public during her annual Truth Act Forum.
"The Sheriff's Office will not change its practices based on the Board resolution and policy that was passed at today's meeting," Martinez said. "The Board of Supervisors does not set policy for the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff, as an independently elected official, sets the policy for the Sheriff's Office. California law prohibits the Board of Supervisors from interfering with the independent, constitutionally, and statutorily designated investigative functions of the Sheriff and is clear that the Sheriff has the sole and exclusive authority to operate the county jails."