Placer County’s non-sanctuary-state backers rebuffed
Board of Supervisors hearing fails to make Tuesday’s agenda
By: Gus Thomson
May 3, 2018
Supporters of a Placer County Board of Supervisors public hearing on the question of declaring non-sanctuary status in the county are being told to look to the courts instead.
Board Chairman Jim Holmes has responded to calls for a hearing from a list of supporters that includes the Placer County Republican Central Committee and fellow-Supervisor Kirk Uhler of Granite Bay by issuing a statement that references both the state’s sanctuary state legislation and the subsequent federal court action filed by the U.S. government in an attempt to quash it.
The Republican Party had requested a hearing at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting in Auburn.
Holmes said that as chairman, he has decided to keep it a sanctuary county discussion off the agenda.
“After giving this issue much thought, including discussions with county counsel and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, I have determined that since this issue is being litigated it would serve no purpose to hold a hearing,” Holmes stated. “This issue will ultimately be resolved by the courts.”
The Republican Party’s request said that the sanctuary state legislation under Senate Bill 54 restricts law enforcement by not allowing peace officers to inquire about someone’s immigration status or detain someone on the basis of a hold request.
“Regardless of our views of legal or illegal immigration, this is really about our law enforcement agencies being able to effectively fight criminals and coordinate with other agencies that do the same in order to keep neighborhoods safe,” Republican Party Central Committee Chairman Dennis Revell said.
To back up its request for non-sanctuary county consideration, the Republican Central Committee cited that it said shows 23,610 undocumented criminal alien inmates in county jails in 2016 were released early and not deported.
Holmes said he is confident that the Sheriff’s Office “will fulfill their obligation, as expressed in their oath of office to keep the citizens of Placer County safe.”
http://www.auburnjournal.com/article...ckers-rebuffed