Residents press Orange County on arrests tied to ICE; leaders say county limited to booking and seeking reimbursement
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Summary
Community speakers described unmarked arrests and family separations tied to state agencies working with ICE; county staff said Orange County does not perform immigration enforcement and is negotiating an IGSA reimbursement rate with the U.S. Marshals Service while legal options were discussed.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period at Friday’s Orange County commission meeting to describe recent arrests in neighborhoods and ask the county to act to stop what they called aggressive enforcement tactics by state or federal agents.
Erica Gomez Tejeda, representing the Immigrants Are Welcome Here coalition (SEG 841), said the county had “an obligation to understand your obligations to cooperate with ICE” and pressed the commission to pursue legal clarity. Several other speakers told personal stories of family members detained and of children fearful for their parents.
County staff responded on the record. Director Banks said the county’s role is limited to operating the jail and booking people brought in by other agencies; Orange County “in no way is” conducting immigration enforcement (SEG 1371–1376). He reported ongoing negotiations with the U.S. Marshals Service to renegotiate the intergovernmental services agreement (IGSA) reimbursement rate for housing federal detainees, a process delayed earlier by a federal government shutdown but since resumed.
County Attorney Newton explained the state and federal legal context: municipalities and counties differ under law, and counties are statutorily required to accept persons booked under federal civil immigration warrants. Newton warned litigation aimed at clarifying “best effort” obligations could be premature, though commissioners including Commissioner Simrad and Commissioner Wilson said they would continue exploring legal options when warranted.
The board asked staff to prepare consolidated information about what the county has done — a one‑page summary for commissioners and the public — and requested ongoing reporting on negotiation progress and jail capacity impacts.
This article is based on verbatim statements from public commenters and county staff recorded in the 12/26/2025 Board of County Commissioners meeting transcript.