This bill pushes local law enforcement into harmful roles they were never meant to play — tools of mass deportation. If law enforcement refuses to do ICE's bidding, this law would strip away funding for essential services in our counties.
Specifically, this bill would force local sheriffs to:
- Request proof of the citizenship status of anyone in jail alleged to have committed any felony, and report anyone to ICE who fails to have ready access to an acceptable form of proof or anyone who invokes their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent; and
- Without a warrant signed by a judge, hold anyone in jail for 48 hours after they should have otherwise been released if ICE requests to pick them up, no matter what crime they are accused of committing.
Existing ICE/sheriff cooperation programs have a long history as vehicles for racism and anti-immigrant hate, despite being advertised as public safety initiatives. As the former Executive Director of ICE’s Office of State and Local Coordination has said, “If you don’t have enough evidence to charge someone criminally but you think he’s illegal, we can make him disappear.”
This bill doesn’t make us safer. It only erodes trust between law enforcement and our communities, particularly immigrants and communities of color who are already disproportionately impacted by deportation. People will be less likely to report crimes or cooperate with the police if they fear being handed over to ICE for something unrelated.
