A Critic Of Sanctuary Protections For Undocumented Immigrants, Jim Desmond Repeatedly Voted To Let San Diego County Authorities Assist ICE With Deportations

Desmond Called Sanctuary Cities “Dumb” And Said They Allowed Terrorists To Enter The Country

2024: Desmond Called The Idea Of A Sanctuary City “Dumb” And Said It Allowed “Terrorists From Around The World To Come To This Country.” “The idea of a sanctuary city is just dumb. This is what has allowed hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to enter, boats to wash up on our shores and terrorists from around the world to come to this country. [Jim Desmond, Twitter, 11/19/24]

Image: see original report, p. 81

[Jim Desmond, Twitter, 11/19/24]

2024: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote To Allow San Diego To Assist Federal Immigration Agents With Deportations

December 2024: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Preventing San Diego County’s Resources From Assisting Federal Immigration Agents With Deportations. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted to prevent the use of its resources and funding to assist federal immigration agents with deportations. The board voted 3 – 1 in favor of the measure, with Supervisor Joel Anderson being absent. The county will restrict use of its jails, county buildings and personnel to help agents with federal immigration enforcement. […] The lone dissent vote came from Republican Jim Desmond, who called the vote ‘an affront to every law-abiding citizen.’” [BorderReport, 12/11/24]

Desmond Called The Successful Vote “An Affront To Every Law-Abiding Citizen.” “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted to prevent the use of its resources and funding to assist federal immigration agents with deportations. The board voted 3 – 1 in favor of the measure, with Supervisor Joel Anderson being absent. The county will restrict use of its jails, county buildings and personnel to help agents with federal immigration enforcement. […] The lone dissent vote came from Republican Jim Desmond, who called the vote ‘an affront to every law-abiding citizen.’” [BorderReport, 12/11/24]

2024: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Affirming That San Diego County Would Not Assist ICE With Civil Immigration Enforcement

December 10, 2024: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against What He Called A “Super” Sanctuary County Policy And Said He Already Contacted The Trump Administration About Fighting It

December 10, 2024: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against What He Called A “Super” Sanctuary County Policy. “Today’s outrageous decision to turn San Diego County into a ‘Super’ Sanctuary County is an affront to every law-abiding citizen who values safety and justice. The Board of Supervisors’ 3-1 vote to embrace this radical policy is a direct betrayal of the people we are sworn to protect. This reckless measure not only goes far beyond California's already extreme Sanctuary State laws but actively endangers our communities by shielding illegal immigrant criminals from deportation. Consider this: under this policy, law enforcement is prohibited from notifying ICE about individuals, in custody, who have committed violent and heinous crimes, including: Rape and stalking, Assault and battery, Burglary, Child abuse and more. I will not stand by while our communities are made less safe. I have already been in contact with the incoming Administration and will fight relentlessly to undo this disastrous policy and ensure that illegal immigrant criminals are removed from our neighborhoods.” [Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/10/24]

Image: see original report, p. 83

[Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/10/24]

December 10, 2024: The San Diego County Board Of Supervisors Voted 3-1 For A Resolution About Cooperation With ICE. “ACTION: ON MOTION of Supervisor Vargas, seconded by Supervisor Montgomery Steppe, the Board of Supervisors took action as recommended, and adopted Resolution No. 24-139, entitled: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ADDING BOARD POLICY L-2 COOPERATION WITH U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. AYES: Vargas, Lawson-Remer, Montgomery Steppe NOES: Desmond ABSENT: Anderson.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 12/10/24]

Desmond Said He Had Contacted The Incoming Trump Administration And Would Fight To Undo The Policy. “I have already been in contact with the incoming Administration and will fight relentlessly to undo this disastrous policy and ensure that illegal immigrant criminals are removed from our neighborhoods.” [Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/10/24]

• Desmond: “This Reckless Measure Not Only Goes Far Beyond California's Already Extreme Sanctuary State Laws But Actively Endangers Our Communities By Shielding Illegal Immigrant Criminals From Deportation.” “This reckless measure not only goes far beyond California's already extreme Sanctuary State laws but actively endangers our communities by shielding illegal immigrant criminals from deportation. Consider this: under this policy, law enforcement is prohibited from notifying ICE about individuals, in custody, who have committed violent and heinous crimes, including: Rape and stalking, Assault and battery, Burglary, Child abuse and more.” [Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/10/24]

The Resolution Desmond Voted Against Affirmed That San Diego County Would Not Assist ICE With Civil Immigration Enforcement

The Resolution Affirmed That San Diego County Would Not Assist ICE With Civil Immigration Enforcement. “Today’s actions will adopt a resolution and Board Policy L-2 to affirm the County shall not provide assistance or cooperation to ICE in its civil immigration enforcement efforts, including by giving ICE agents access to individuals or allowing them to use County facilities for investigative interviews or other purposes, expending County time or resources responding to ICE inquiries or communicating with ICE regarding individuals’ incarceration status or release dates, or otherwise participating in any civil immigration enforcement activities. The proposed policy does not limit or prohibit giving assistance with the investigative activities of any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency relating to suspected violations of criminal laws.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 12/10/24]

• The Legislative Recommendation Said, “Limiting Cooperation Focuses Our Local County Resources On Local Matters, As Immigration Enforcement Is A Federal Responsibility.” “San Diego County has a vested interest in maintaining public safety and effective law enforcement while also managing its resources efficiently. By avoiding active cooperation with ICE, including through specific notification to ICE of the release dates of immigrants, the County avoids treating a group of individuals differently solely on the basis of their immigration status. The County likewise avoids providing unequal access to probation programs and re-entry services for certain ex-offenders based on their immigration status. Limiting cooperation focuses our local County resources on local matters, as immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 12/10/24]

The Legislation Did Not Prohibit Giving Assistance To Local, State, Or Federal Authorities Investigating Suspected Criminal Violations. “Today’s actions will adopt a resolution and Board Policy L-2 to affirm the County shall not provide assistance or cooperation to ICE in its civil immigration enforcement efforts, including by giving ICE agents access to individuals or allowing them to use County facilities for investigative interviews or other purposes, expending County time or resources responding to ICE inquiries or communicating with ICE regarding individuals’ incarceration status or release dates, or otherwise participating in any civil immigration enforcement activities. The proposed policy does not limit or prohibit giving assistance with the investigative activities of any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency relating to suspected violations of criminal laws.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 12/10/24]

Desmond Said Protections For Migrants Had “Nothing To Do With Reporting,” But A Local Immigration Lawyer Pointed Out Local Coordination With Immigration Agents Made Immigrants Less Likely To Report Crimes

In Discussing The San Diego County Protections For Migrants, Desmond Said, “This Has Nothing To Do With Reporting, Doesn’t Put Anyone In Jeopardy For Reporting.” “After Mr. Trump’s victory, the Board of Supervisors for San Diego County moved to bolster protections for migrants by requiring federal agents to obtain a judicial warrant for any undocumented immigrants they want to pick up from a local jail, banning any investigative interviews by immigration officials inside jails and prohibiting the use of county resources for immigration enforcement. […] The lone dissenting vote on San Diego’s Board of Supervisors came from Jim Desmond, a Republican, who said there already are protections for immigrants reporting crimes or dealing with the local police, who are barred from asking about immigration status. ‘So we’re talking about people that have already committed the crime, they’ve already been tried for the crime and convicted and sentenced and they are in our jails,’ he said. ‘And so this has nothing to do with reporting, doesn’t put anyone in jeopardy for reporting. All this does is allow our sheriffs to let ICE know that these people are in our custody and when they are going to get out.’” [New York Times, 12/25/24]

Immigration Lawyer Ian Seruelo Said Coordination Between Local Law Enforcement And Immigration Agents Harmed Public Safety By Making Immigrants Less Likely To Report Crimes. “In a letter to the sheriff, Ian M. Seruelo, the chair of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, said, ‘We hope that your statement was a mere misunderstanding on your part of the full scope of the California Values Act, and not a flagrant disregard for state law, our democratic processes and our constitutional rights.’ In an interview, Mr. Seruelo, who is also a practicing immigration lawyer, said that any coordination between local law enforcement and immigration agents harms public safety because it makes immigrants less likely to report crimes or cooperate as witnesses. ‘A lot of families here in San Diego have an undocumented member,’ he said. ‘If that level of trust is diminished toward local law enforcement, it will discourage many San Diegans from reporting crime or from accessing county resources or services.’” [New York Times, 12/25/24]

Desmond Previously Warned About The Proposal On Twitter And Invited Elon Musk To Visit San Diego

December 7, 2024: Desmond Warned About The Proposal On Twitter And Responded To A Reply From Elon Musk, Inviting Musk To Visit The San Diego Border. “[Desmond:] I wanted to share an urgent and concerning update regarding next week's final Board of Supervisors meeting for the year. One of my colleagues has introduced a proposal that, if passed, would prohibit all county cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This includes even the essential act of notifying ICE about release dates for criminal illegal immigrants. This proposed legislation goes far beyond California's existing Sanctuary State laws. It would explicitly forbid law enforcement from communicating with ICE about individuals who commit serious crimes such as: *Assault, battery, and sexual abuse *Burglary *Child abuse Under this proposal, if an illegal immigrant commits one of these crimes, the County would be barred from informing ICE, effectively preventing their deportation and allowing them to remain in our communities. San Diego County is already one of the few places in the nation where taxpayers spend $5 million annually to provide attorneys for illegal immigrants facing deportation. Now, this legislation aims to prioritize the interests of illegal immigrants even further, doing so at the expense of the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens. [Musk:] !! [Desmond:] Any interest in visiting the San Diego border? We've been the epicenter of illegal immigration, but majority are going elsewhere in the country. Trying to shine a light on the craziness happening here.” [Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/7/24]

Image: see original report, p. 85

[Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 12/7/24]

2025: Desmond Proposed And Voted For A Failed Attempt To Repeal San Diego County’s Sanctuary Law

March 2025: Desmond Proposed And Voted For An Unsuccessful Attempt At Repealing What He Called The “Super Sanctuary” Law

March 2025: Desmond Proposed And Voted For Repealing What He Called The “Super Sanctuary” Law, Which Limited Local Assistance For Federal Immigration Enforcement. “An attempt Tuesday to repeal an existing San Diego County policy limiting local assistance for federal immigration enforcement has failed, with two Board of Supervisors members voting in favor, one opposing and one abstaining. Jim Desmond proposed repealing the existing policy, claiming it makes the county a ‘super sanctuary’ for people living in the country illegally by limiting local assistance for federal immigration enforcement. Desmond and Joel Anderson voted yes, while Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe voted no and Terra Lawson-Remer abstained. Three votes were needed for the repeal to take effect.” [KPBS, 3/11/25]

Desmond’s Proposal Failed To Get The Three Votes Needed To Repeal The Previous Policy As Two Supervisors Voted Yes, One Voted No, And One Abstained. “An attempt Tuesday to repeal an existing San Diego County policy limiting local assistance for federal immigration enforcement has failed, with two Board of Supervisors members voting in favor, one opposing and one abstaining. Jim Desmond proposed repealing the existing policy, claiming it makes the county a ‘super sanctuary’ for people living in the country illegally by limiting local assistance for federal immigration enforcement. Desmond and Joel Anderson voted yes, while Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe voted no and Terra Lawson-Remer abstained. Three votes were needed for the repeal to take effect.” [KPBS, 3/11/25]

Desmond Denied That His Proposal Was About Politics. “In a statement after the Tuesday vote, Desmond said the outcome ‘was deeply disappointing.’ ‘This was not about politics,’ said Desmond, a Republican who is also a candidate for 49th Congressional District in 2026. ‘This was about ensuring that criminals — child abusers, burglars and violent offenders — are removed from our communities. Instead, fear and misinformation won the day, leaving law-abiding residents at greater risk.’” [KPBS, 3/11/25]

January 2025: Desmond Praised Border Czar Tom Homan For Calling Out The “Super Sanctuary” Policy

January 2025: Desmond Praised Tom Homan For Calling Out What Desmond Called “The Ridiculous Super Sanctuary Policy Passed By The County Of San Diego.” “I’m glad to see Tom Homan calling out the ridiculous Super Sanctuary Policy passed by the County of San Diego. Policies like this put our communities at risk by prioritizing politics over public safety.” [Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 1/2/25]

Image: see original report, p. 87

[Supervisor Jim Desmond, Twitter, 1/2/25]

• Trump Tapped Tom Homan To Be The White House “Border Czar.” “President-elect Donald Trump’s picks to serve in top jobs in his next administration have generally stayed off the airwaves to avoid any verbal slipups that might jeopardize their chances at getting confirmed by the Senate. Not so with Tom Homan. Homan, who was the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term in office, has been tapped to be the new White House ‘border czar.’ The job does not require Senate confirmation, meaning Homan has the freedom to go on cable news and conservative media and promote Trump’s agenda.” [NBC News, 12/11/24]

2018-2019: Desmond Signed An Amicus Brief Supporting Trump’s Lawsuit Against California’s Sanctuary State Law And As A County Supervisor Voted To Support Trump’s Lawsuit

2018: Desmond Signed An Amicus Brief In Support Of Trump’s Lawsuit Against California’s Sanctuary State Law And Called For The County Board Of Supervisors To Do The Same

April 2018: Desmond Signed An Amicus Brief In Support Of The Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Against California’s Immigrant Sanctuary Law. “North San Diego County mayors called for the county Board of Supervisors to support the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against California’s immigrant sanctuary law at a news conference on Monday. […] Desmond — who is running for county supervisor — signed an amicus brief in support of Trump’s lawsuit. ‘Law enforcement needs to work together to keep us safe,’ he said.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/18]

April 2018: Desmond Called For The County Board Of Supervisors To Support Trump’s Lawsuit Against Senate Bill 54. “North San Diego County mayors called for the county Board of Supervisors to support the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against California’s immigrant sanctuary law at a news conference on Monday. Two Republican mayors — Escondido’s Sam Abed and San Marcos’s Jim Desmond — joined conservative radio host Carl DeMaio in calling the state’s sanctuary laws ‘divisive’ and a threat to public safety. The law, known as Senate Bill 54, limits how much assistance local authorities can provide to federal officials in the enforcement of immigration laws.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/18]

Desmond Said His Opposition To California’s Law Was About Public Safety And Said, “This IS Not About Anti-Immigration, Anti-Hispanic Or Anything Else”

April 2018: Desmond Said His Opposition To SB 54 Was About Public Safety. “Desmond said the effort was about public safety, not immigration. ‘This is not about anti-immigration, anti-Hispanic or anything else,’ he said. ‘This is about protecting the citizens. SB 54 and the sanctuary city law actually protects felons more than it does law-abiding citizens.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/18]

• California’s SB 54 Limited How Much Local Authorities Could Assist Federal Authorities In Enforcing Immigration Laws. “North San Diego County mayors called for the county Board of Supervisors to support the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against California’s immigrant sanctuary law at a news conference on Monday. Two Republican mayors — Escondido’s Sam Abed and San Marcos’s Jim Desmond — joined conservative radio host Carl DeMaio in calling the state’s sanctuary laws ‘divisive’ and a threat to public safety. The law, known as Senate Bill 54, limits how much assistance local authorities can provide to federal officials in the enforcement of immigration laws.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/18]

Desmond: “This Is Not About Anti-Immigration, Anti-Hispanic Or Anything Else” “Desmond said the effort was about public safety, not immigration. ‘This is not about anti-immigration, anti-Hispanic or anything else,’ he said. ‘This is about protecting the citizens. SB 54 and the sanctuary city law actually protects felons more than it does law-abiding citizens.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/18]

2018: The San Diego Board Of Supervisors Voted To File A Brief Supporting Trump

April 2018: The San Diego Board Of Supervisors Voted 3-1 To File A Brief Siding With The Federal Government Against California’s Sanctuary State Law. “On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors voted to file a court brief siding with the federal government in its lawsuit against California's so-called sanctuary state law. […] Supervisor Greg Cox was the lone dissenter in the 3-1 vote. Supervisor Ron Roberts was absent but said his colleagues should ‘stay out of it.’” [CBS 8 News, 4/19/18]

April 2018: Trump Thanked San Diego County For Supporting His Lawsuit. “Thank you San Diego County for defending the rule of law and supporting our lawsuit against California's illegal and unconstitutional 'Sanctuary' policies. California's dangerous policies release violent criminals back into our communities, putting all Americans at risk.” [Donald J. Trump, Twitter, 4/19/18]

Image: see original report, p. 88

[Donald J. Trump, Twitter, 4/19/18]

2019: As A Supervisor, Desmond Voted To Support The Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Against California’s Sanctuary Laws

November 2019: As A Supervisor, Desmond Voted To Support The Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Against California’s Sanctuary Laws. “A divided San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted 3-2 in a closed session to again support the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California over the state’s so-called sanctuary laws, which limit local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. […] Jacob and Gaspar again backed the Trump administration’s lawsuit Wednesday and were joined by Supervisor Jim Desmond. Cox and Supervisor Nathan Fletcher voted against the measure.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/20/19]