Santa Clara Co. Revisits Sanctuary Law With 120 To Podium

SAN JOSE, CA -- It was like ICE was knocking on Santa Clara County's door over its controversial sanctuary law that prompted a stirring debate at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, which brought out a list of 120 speakers - many of whom provided a one-minute testimony of their passionate beliefs.

And it's not over.

The policy as such maintains that the county withholds voluntary information that notifies federal authorities about undocumented inmates with a history of violent crime.

The proposal to review its sanctuary policy came about when a San Jose woman was brutally murdered in her Knollfield Way home in February at the hands of an undocumented immigrant who was on ICE's radar. Carlos Eduardo Arevalo Carranza, a 24-year-old transient, is accused of killing Bambi Larsen, 59.

The policy change as proposed by Supervisor Dave Cortese would dictate that local law enforcement contact the feds to announce an inmate's release date. The alteration would consequently turn the inmates over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is not to say that the county would start cooperating with the agency to detain by order or to hold inmates longer.

When all was said and done, the matter will return with direction on staff whether changing the policy would even be legal and how notification would function. The board approved by 4-to-1 of the direction, with Supervisor Susan Ellenberg of District 4 voting no.

The speakers against a change in policy vehemently dominated the meeting and came from all walks of life and affiliations. There were neighbors, outsiders and stakeholders who make it their livelihood to protect civil liberties such as the American Civil Liberties Union and other public servants.

Many urged the county to not fall into the divisive politics they're seeing on a federal level with U.S. President Donald Trump in charge, accusing the leader of the free world of spewing hate and singling out immigrants as criminals.

A few speakers used statistics to support their stance that immigrants' already heightened mistrust will deepen if the county willingly turns them over to the federal authorities, who have recently been criticized for dividing families and allegedly beating people in custody.

One speaker asked the county to please "not politicize the woman's death." Another suggested a person's criminal behavior is "not associated with one's birth."

Most who dwarfed the minority nine times over expressed a pride in their county's hard stance against an intrusive federal government.

Under the California Values Act, SB54, the county is prohibited from holding any individual in custody beyond their normal release date without first receiving a warrant from ICE that according to county Counsel James Williams should have obtained a warrant to hold Carranza.

Arevalo Carranza was under the influence of methamphetamine and held a long criminal history of being in and out of the criminal justice system in California.

Despite some residents in the minority speaking said they were scared to go to bed at night, South Bay law enforcement from San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia to Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen opened the commentary by urging the county to refrain from cooperating with ICE.

Rosen's "Balanced Approach to Public Safety" read his testimony from a heartfelt letter he wrote to the panel:

"From where I stand, this is not an immigrant issue. It is a safety issue. If you murder someone, I don't care if you come from Mexico, Montenegro, Mars or Milpitas. The police will find you and arrest you. My office will prosecute you. You will go to prison," he said. "With that said, I hope there is no confusion here today about what I feel about the demonization of immigrants. Santa Clara County's immigrants are not just welcome here with us. They are our neighbors."