By Police1 Staff
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A California county is considering a fight against the state’s sanctuary law.
Orange County leaders planned Tuesday to mull action against the law that bars police in many cases from turning over suspects to federal agents for deportation, the Associated Press reports. The move comes a week after the city of Los Alamitos moved to opt out of the law.
“This legislation prevents law enforcement from removing criminals from our community and is a threat to public safety,” Supervisor Shawn Nelson said.
The county’s supervisors are expected to discuss a resolution supporting Los Alamitos and whether to join the lawsuit against the state filed by the Trump administration.
In response to the state’s sanctuary law, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department announced Monday that it’ll publish inmates’ release dates, according to the Orange County Register. The move aims to improve communication with federal immigration agents.
Before the sanctuary law passed, the department screened inmates at the county’s jails to help ICE agents identify those who were subject to deportation.
Supporters of the sanctuary law said it encourages immigrants to report crimes without the fear of being deported. Critics said local police should provide more assistance to federal authorities.
Some legal experts said cities cannot simply opt out of the law and will face lawsuits if they try.
Nelson said the state’s sanctuary laws are “preempted by federal law,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Our officers actually face penalties under state law if they so much as talk to federal agents for the wrong thing. That’s just unacceptable and it’s contrary to federal law,” Nelson said.