'In the hot seat': 58 CA sheriffs speak out on immigration enforcement under Trump

21 January

Donald Trump repeatedly promised mass deportations during his 2024 campaign, even vowing to end birthright citizenship despite the fact that it is in the U.S. Consitution's 14th Amendment. And on Monday night, January 20 — after returning to the White House — President Trump issued an executive order against birthright citizenship, underscoring his deportations promise.

Many legal experts, however, are saying that carrying out the amount of mass deportations Trump has promised is much easier said than done.

CalMatters conducted a comprehensive survey of sheriffs in California, asking all 58 sheriffs in the state about immigration enforcement under Trump's second presidency.

According to reporters Tomas Apodaca and Nigel Duara, Trump's promises "could put California's 58 elected sheriffs in the hot seat because of their responsibility to manage local jails."

Sheriffs in Los Angeles, Napa, Orange, Madera, San Bernadino and Mendocino Counties told CalMatters they will "comply with state law," while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said he will "cooperate with ICE." And the sheriffs of Kern and Butte Counties responded, "Unclear."

"CalMatters reached out to the sheriffs by e-mail and website contact forms," Apodaca and Nigel Duara explain. "When those weren't available, we called the contact number on their website. Two county sheriffs' offices — Monterey and San Mateo — did not return calls seeking comment."

The CalMatters reporters add, "For months, Trump allies have signaled that they'd focus initial immigration enforcement on undocumented people who have committed crimes. This month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would empower immigration agencies to deport people arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft and shoplifting. The bill is expected to pass the Senate."

Read the full CalMatters report at this link.

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