Quick Take
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at the Santa Cruz Main Jail on Saturday morning seeking to take someone into custody, but left without detaining anyone, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said. Volunteers monitoring ICE activity reported that agents came and went throughout the day.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting enforcement activities at the Santa Cruz Main Jail on Saturday morning.
Federal immigration agents had arrived at the facility in an attempt to take an individual into custody, but left without detaining anyone, according to a department social media post.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting public safety, maintaining community trust and carrying out its responsibilities in accordance with California law and applicable county policies governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities,” the department said.
Despite the department’s statement that agents had left, a black Nissan Pathfinder and a red Jeep SUV, each carrying two ICE agents, remained outside the jail into the afternoon. Both vehicles left the parking lot by 2:30 p.m. Volunteers said agents had come and gone repeatedly throughout the day. It remained unclear where the agents went or whether they would return, but some volunteers reported following some of the agents up northbound Highway 17.
Mayoral candidate Ami Chen Mills and former Santa Cruz city councilmember Sandy Brown were at the scene.
Sheriff Chris Clark has previously told Lookout that his department does not cooperate with immigration enforcement.
The sheriff’s office did not respond to Lookout’s request for comment.
Your Allied Rapid Response, an ICE watchdog group, first reported the presence of immigration officials at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The group’s legal observers, who document ICE activity, were on scene until agents left the jail.
Nearly 20 YARR volunteers remained at the jail as of midafternoon Saturday.
According to Joliene Gatlin, co-director of jail ministry for Profits of Hope — a group that gathers at the jail three times a month on Saturday to provide coffee, food, clothing and other resources to visiting families of inmates headed for release — one of their members either saw or heard ICE agents and notified YARR. She added that the jail closed down its lobby and halted visitation for the day.
Gatlin and other volunteers are likely to return on Sunday, in case ICE agents return.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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