Sheriff defends jail-to-ICE transfers as community presses county to enforce sanctuary policy

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez told county supervisors and a packed Truth Act forum that the sheriff—s office followed state law when it provided Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to people in custody, and described procedures used to screen ICE requests. Community advocates and dozens of public commenters countered that the transfers erode trust, cause fear, and violate the county—s December 2024 Board Policy L2.

The Truth Act forum, convened by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to meet the transparency requirement in the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act (AB 2792), included a presentation by the sheriff's office followed by public comment and written questions from the community. Andrew Strong, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the county Public Safety Group, introduced the legal framework cited by the sheriff—s office, including the Trust Act (AB 4, 2013), the Truth Act (AB 2792, 2016), and the California Values Act (SB 54, 2017).

Sheriff Kelly Martinez said SB 54 limits local participation in immigration enforcement but allows transfers or notifications in limited circumstances, and that the sheriff's office reports those actions for transparency. "This year's presentation will explain the balance my agency engages in when it comes to lawfully providing ICE access to individuals who meet qualifying criminal convictions as dictated by state law," Martinez said at the dais. Detentions Processing Manager Liliana Martinez Fuentes walked the board and public through the office's written-request process for ICE contact requests and the forms used to notify people in custody.

Martinez Fuentes said ICE must submit formal written requests that are screened by the jail population management unit; if a request is…