Santa Clara County Maintains Resistance to ICE Detainers
From SIREN:
SIREN Thanks Santa Clara County Supervisors for Rejecting Changes to Current Detainer Policy and Protecting Immigrant Rights
SAN JOSE, CA—On Tuesday, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 2 rejecting changes to a policy adopted in 2011 that limits the involvement of local police in federal immigration matters. The policy, as it will remain, effectively allows for local law enforcement to deny requests from ICE to hold immigrants who would otherwise be eligible for release, except in limited situations and where costs for detaining individuals are reimbursed by the federal government.
The following is a statement by Patricia Diaz, Executive Director at Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN):
“We are encouraged by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors decision today to prioritize community trust and public safety. Their vote to reject changes to the current detainer policy, as adopted in 2011, is a major victory in a county where two-thirds of its population is immigrants or children of immigrants. Since the adoption of this policy, Santa Clara County has been a leader in both protecting immigrant rights and promoting public safety. Our county has a policy that has served as a model policy for localities and states around the country.
“Today, we have greater assurances that our immigrant communities will receive equal treatment under the law and not be subjected to a two-tiered justice system based on their immigration status alone. Our communities will be safer as relationships between local law enforcement and immigrants are strengthened. Immigrants and their families will live in less fear that minor or wrongful arrests could lead to deportation. Thousands of aspiring citizens will live in less fear that interactions with officers intended to serve and protect them will lead to deportation.
“We thank our Board of Supervisors for their commitment to leading the nation in progressive immigration policies and ensuring further protections for immigrants caught at the intersection between the immigration and criminal justice systems. SIREN will continue to educate our immigrant communities and work with local law enforcement agencies to reinforce trust.”
Conny Cortes, a SIREN community leader from the Seven Trees area in San Jose, was present at the Board of Supervisors meeting and had this to say about her personal experience and why she believes the policy should remain as it is:
“Before this policy was in place, immigrants in our community did not want to call the police to report crimes or even open doors if they came to their homes. With this policy, the trust in the community has increased, and we have been able to work directly with law enforcement to make our Seven Trees neighborhood safer.”
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