Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Truth Act topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community calls for end to ICE transfers as Orange County sheriff outlines 2024 screenings
Summary
At a Truth Act public hearing, dozens of community members urged the Board of Supervisors to halt ICE transfers and provide fuller transparency. Sheriff Don Barnes presented 2024 screening data showing 733 detainer screenings and 186 custodial transfers to ICE, and supervisors asked for better pre-hearing data sharing and accessible forums.
A public forum required by California’s Truth Act drew heavy public comment March 25 as community groups pressed the Orange County Board of Supervisors to end transfers of county jail inmates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Speakers representing Latino Health Access, the Orange County Rapid Response Network and other groups told the board that ICE transfers have increased fear, depressed local economic activity and separated families. Anna Chargo of Latino Health Access cited a reported "1,200% increase in ICE transfers by the Orange County sheriff’s department from 02/2022 to 02/2023" and urged the board to "put an end to ICE transfer in our county." Resilience Orange County and other commenters demanded accessible reporting of ICE interview requests and demographic detail so community members can evaluate patterns of enforcement.
Sheriff Don Barnes responded with an overview of county data for calendar year 2024, saying OCSD conducted 733 screenings for inmates with ICE detainers among roughly 48,000 bookings. Barnes said 456 screenings did not meet statutory thresholds under SB 54 and those individuals were released back into the community. He said 277 screenings met SB 54 thresholds that allow notification to ICE; of those, Barnes said 228 were released to ICE custody and 49 were not picked up by ICE, and that 186 individuals ultimately were transferred in a custodial setting to ICE. The sheriff provided anonymized examples of individuals who were released and later rearrested to explain the department’s practice.
The public testimony and the sheriff’s presentation framed sharply different priorities. Community advocates argued transfers are discretionary and harm trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Several speakers asked the board to demand fuller disclosure of: (1) how many ICE interview requests were made; (2) how many interviews were consented to; and (3) demographic and outcome breakdowns for transfers and interviews. Speakers also criticized the morning scheduling of the forum as inaccessible to working people and asked for evening/community sessions.
Board members acknowledged the concerns and said they want better information. Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento noted the Board has limited policy oversight of an independently elected sheriff but said the forum should be more accessible and said his office recently held an evening version of the forum to reach working residents. Vice Chair Katrina Foley asked that future hearing materials be shared with supervisors earlier (Sarmiento suggested 30 days) so offices and the public can review the data in advance. Supervisors also noted the county has increased the number of Padilla attorneys in the public defender’s office and improved consular cooperation.
No change in sheriff policy or binding board action on transfers was taken at the meeting; the Truth Act forum was held to receive and file the 2024 information as required by law. Several speakers and some supervisors said they will continue to press for policy changes, increased transparency and evening forum availability so more residents can attend.
