Residents at Ventura County ‘Truth’ forum urge end to sheriff’s voluntary cooperation with ICE

Dozens of residents urged the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on the night of the county’s annual “Truth” forum to end the sheriff’s voluntary cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying transfers and notifications to federal immigration authorities break up families and erode public trust.

The sheriff, who spoke at the start of the forum, framed his cooperation as narrowly targeted at “the worst offenders” and repeatedly emphasized that decisions to notify or transfer people to ICE are his to make. In Spanish he said, “es mi decisión,” and later told the board he would continue to contact ICE in cases he deems appropriate. Ron Miller, who identified himself as the chief responsible for probation supervision, told the forum that the probation agency reported no juvenile transfers to federal immigration authorities in 2024 and that it does not participate in community immigration enforcement.

Why it matters: Public trust in local law enforcement affects whether immigrant residents report crimes, seek help and share information with authorities, speakers said. Many residents said voluntary cooperation with ICE undermines community safety, increases fear among workers and families, and can result in costly litigation for the county.

Most substantive points

- Sheriff’s presentation: The sheriff described examples of arrests he said led to ICE transfers and argued that cooperation helps keep the community safe by focusing on serious or violent offenders. He repeatedly asserted that the decision to communicate with ICE is his prerogative. (Transcript excerpt: “es mi decisión.”)

- Probation report: Ron Miller reported that the probation agency does not engage in immigration enforcement activities in the community and stated that in 2024 there were no examples in which probation staff shared residential addresses with federal officials. He provided figures for the juvenile facility population, describing a daily population figure and an annual average in his remarks.

- Public comment: A large portion of the forum was public comment. Multiple speakers, many identifying themselves as organizers or members of local groups such as Buen Vecino and Proyecto Mixteco Indígena, asked the board to end voluntary transfers to ICE, stop responding to ICE notification requests and consider oversight measures for the sheriff’s office. Several speakers cited the April Glasshouse Farms enforcement action as an example of harms they say result from cooperation.

Notable direct quotes (Spanish, as spoken at the forum): - Sheriff (name not specified): “es mi decisión.” - Ron Miller, probation: “La agencia no participa en actividades de inmigración en la comunidad.” - Verónica Hernández, organizer, Proyecto Mixteco Indígena: “Cuando el condado entrega gente a ICE, se vuelve cómplice de esas injusticias.”

Procedural and factual notes

- Forum scope: The forum was convened under the county’s annual “Truth” reporting requirement to discuss access to local detainees by federal immigration authorities and related transparency. At the start staff announced 52 public comments on the list; during the evening staff called about 69 speakers.

- No board action recorded: The forum was a public hearing for information and comment; the transcript records public presentations and comments but not a formal vote, motion or directive by the board during the forum.

Context and next steps

Speakers repeatedly urged supervisors to monitor fiscal impacts of voluntary cooperation, consider creating additional oversight of the sheriff’s office, and join other California counties that have limited or ended cooperation with ICE. Supervisors heard the comments and the sheriff’s presentation; the transcript does not record any formal follow-up actions or votes arising from this forum.

Ending

The forum concluded after extended public comment. Supervisors and staff acknowledged the volume and intensity of comments and noted that the Truth forum is informational; any policy changes or directives would require separate board action.