San Bernardino officials have issued a statement on immigration enforcement, as federal authorities continue deportation raids throughout Southern California.
Over the past several weeks, the city has received “numerous phone calls from residents” seeking information about local immigration enforcement, according to a city statement June 18.
Citing the California Values Act of 2018 and referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, city officials said:
“The City is restricted from investigating, interrogating, or arresting individuals solely for immigration enforcement purposes.
“The City is not allowed to share personal information (like home or work addresses) with ICE unless it’s already publicly available.
“SBPD cannot ask individuals about their immigration status, participate in arrests based on civil immigration warrants, or use immigration officers as interpreters.
“There is an exception allowing cooperation with federal immigration officials in cases involving violent or serious felons.
“That said, San Bernardino and SBPD are also prohibited from preventing ICE from conducting an enforcement action in the City, if one were to occur.”
Since June 6, federal agents have conducted raids in Los Angeles and Southern California to enforce immigration laws, sparking widespread protests that at times have resulted in violence and property damage.
