Off hold: San Francisco will be the only jail in the state not holding inmates for federal immigration authorities. (AP file photo)San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey will start releasing illegal immigrants arrested for low-level crimes from jail even if federal officials notified through a controversial fingerprint identification program request that they be held for a deportation hearing.

The new policy, set to begin June 1, means illegal immigrants arrested for petty crimes such as disorderly conduct, drunk in public or shoplifting will not be held in jail until U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials come to collect them.

San Francisco would become the first county in California to implement such a policy, he said.

Local jails are not required to hold inmates if ICE has identified them as illegal immigrants, and sheriff’s deputies would not be violating any law, Hennessey said.

The change is meant to uphold San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance, which prohibits local officials from assisting ICE unless it involves a felony.

“I’m just doing our best to enforce local law. That’s my job,â€