SUPERVISORS MUST DEMAND SHERIFF TO ADHERE TO RULE OF LAW ON IMMIGRATION
In spite of clear instructions by LA County Supervisors, Sheriff McDonnell continued his collaboration with ICE. Rogue agency must be reigned-in.
Los Angeles — The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, expressed deep concern Tuesday over findings in a report issued by the Los Angeles County Inspector General on the LAC Sheriff Department and its ongoing collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The following are statements for Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director —
“We are extremely disturbed by the report findings. Los Angeles County prides itself to be a pro-immigrant jurisdiction, and while progress has been made, the report confirms an ongoing and secretive collaboration between the Sheriff Department and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).
The report cites as example the Sheriff’s blatant disregard to a motion enacted by the Board of Supervisors in 2015 which limited the physical presence of ICE in our local jails. It was only after the IG’s discovery of this outgoing presence that the Sheriff agreed to uphold the two-year old mandate by the Board.
Sheriff McDonnell forcefully opposed Senate Bill 54 (De Leon), the California Values Act signed into law by Governor Brown last week.
We call on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to reign-in a rogue Sheriff Department with swift and bold action. The IG’s report should compel the Board to demand that Sheriff McDonnell follow the rule of law as set forth by Los Angeles County. We demand strong oversight and accountability mechanisms, as well as further limits on its collaboration with immigration authorities.”
Media Contact
Name: Jorge-Mario Cabrera
Title: Communications Director
Phone: (562) 243–5559
Email address: jmcabrera@chirla.org
