April 2022

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.     George Carlin

Sanctuary Ordinance

Raices Collective, Corazon Healdsburg and North Bay Organizing Project are some of the signers requesting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors consider adopting a Sanctuary Ordinance for Sonoma County to guarantee the safety and security of our immigrant and undocumented families and neighbors.

The groups sent a letter to supervisors on March 15 arguing that the Sheriff’s Office practice of providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement with information on jailed people who are in the country illegally is costly, unjust and unnecessary under the law.

“We urgently request the Board of Supervisors to consider adopting a Sanctuary Ordinance for Sonoma County to guarantee the safety and security of our immigrant and undocumented families and neighbors.”

A sanctuary designation would change the current policy which allows Sheriff’s Office detention facilities to send the release dates and times of inmates to ICE at its request, if these people are convicted or charged with certain crimes.  Sheriff Essick reported that 117 requests from ICE in 2021 resulted in information about the release from custody of 33 people in the country illegally.  This is in accordance with California legislation that limits coordination between county agencies and federal agents.  The Sheriff’s office later stated that the number of responses for 2021 in total was 43.  No one was arrested by ICE.  Many people argue that state law does not require Sheriffs to provide information about detainees.  Many people believe that the county should cease the practice altogether.  The Board will place the sanctuary agenda on the agenda after July after the start of the new fiscal year.