Riverside County holds public forum on collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors held an open forum to discuss the relationship between Riverside County Sheriff’s and federal ICE agents, and to what extent they should work together. The forum became so heated it was ultimately shut down early by the board.
Several members of the public showed up Tuesday to the meeting expressing concerns and asking for policy changes. People on both sides said current immigration policy is inadequate and a concern to public safety, but for different reasons.
Immigration-rights advocates said that local law enforcement and ICE working together prevents members of the Latino community from ever calling police for help, for fear of being deported.
“We feel like it affects public safety…from speaking to members of our community here in Riverside…they’re scared to call local law enforcement,” said Luis Suarz, a volunteer with the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
Supporters also said they don’t want county resources and tax dollars going toward policies that might lead to the separation of local families.
“I don’t want want my tax dollars locally being spent on federal duties for immigration and custom enforcement,” said Elizabeth Ayala, another volunteer with the Coalition for Immigration Justice.
But pro-ICE advocates said the collaboration between local and federal agencies needs to be strengthened to promote border security. And for some present on Tuesday, the issue was personal: “This young boy, Ruben Morfin, was murdered by an illegal alien gangbanger…it was four days after christmas 1990 I know the mother,” said Arthur Schaper.
“This is a picture of a border patrol agent who was killed by a group of illegal crossers,” said Loree Masonis.
Tuesday’s controversial discussion was not exclusive to Riverside — four counties across Southern California are holding these public forums on the issue as part of the TRUTH act, a state immigration policy that took effect in 2016.
Riverside County says they moved the community forum about access to individuals by federal law-enforcement from Tuesday’s morning Board of Supervisors’ agenda to 1:30pm, to inconvenience as few residents as possible. However, on Tuesday the forum was delayed in getting started.
In a release, the County said that Tuesday’s agenda includes several items that they expect will attract many people and lengthy discussion. They say the agenda includes the community forum in addition to other labor issues and several land-use items.
The County says, “The forum is meant to provide information to the public about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) access, and is an opportunity to receive public comment. At such forums, local law enforcement officials also provide the Board with data.”
Watch Madison Weil’s full report on the community forum at 5pm on News Channel 3.
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