Contra Costa holds Truth Act forum as community and sheriff debate ICE notifications

Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chair Candace Anderson convened a community forum July 22 to review local interactions between county agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under CaliforniaGovernment Code section 7283.1, commonly called the Truth Act. The forum featured a county overview, a presentation by an immigrant-rights attorney and a report from Sheriff David Livingston on 2024 notification activity.

Why it matters: the presentations and public comments highlighted a clash between the countys statutory obligations, the sheriffs discretion in interpreting those rules and community concerns about ICEuse of notification information. Residents and immigrant-rights groups called for stronger local limits on voluntary cooperation with ICE; the sheriff defended the offices narrow practice of responding to notification requests in cases he described as involving serious or violent felonies.

Sheriffs report: Sheriff David Livingston told the board his office received 578 ICE requests for notification in 2024 and made 132 notifications; because some detainees were the subject of multiple requests, Livingston said the number of distinct individuals notified was 96. He said the office does not honor…