A proposed ordinance was introduced by Santa Barbara County Supervisors Roy Lee and Laura Capps to prohibit ICE from using county property without authorization. Lee says he understands how the immigrant community feels, and his parents walk around with documentation proving their citizenship.
A proposed ordinance was introduced by Santa Barbara County Supervisors Roy Lee and Laura Capps to prohibit ICE from using county property without authorization. Lee says he understands how the immigrant community feels, and his parents walk around with documentation proving their citizenship. Credit: Daniel Green / Noozhawk file photo

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved a new policy on Tuesday prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using county property for unauthorized immigration operations.

The new policy was passed by the Board of Supervisors in a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Bob Nelson of the Fourth District dissenting.

The board also voted to approve two other motions asking for reports on how to safeguard elections and whether the county can prohibit ICE detention centers from being built in unincorporated areas.

The board passed the portion on safeguarding elections in a 5-0 vote. The segments restricting ICE agents from using county property for unauthorized purposes and researching ICE facilities were passed in a separate 4-1 vote.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps and First District Supervisor Roy Lee introduced the policy changes and requests for reports.

The proposal to ban ICE agents from using county-owned property without authorization came in response to reports of people being arrested near county facilities, including outside of the Santa Barbara County Probation Building.

In December, ICE agents parked cars in the West Campus parking lot at Santa Barbara City College before heading into nearby neighborhoods.

According to county counsel, ICE can use county property if it has a lawful warrant.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps, who with Supervisor Roy Lee introduced a proposal to prohibit ICE from using county property without proper authorization, says ICE's actions prevent people from accessing county services.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps, who with Supervisor Roy Lee introduced a proposal to prohibit ICE from using county property without proper authorization, says ICE’s actions prevent people from accessing county services. Credit: Courtesy photo

Capps said the legislation is not about politics or partisanship, but about standing up for the community. She added that even though 40% of residents use county services, recent actions by ICE are driving away residents.  

“This proposal is about ensuring that public spaces that we as county supervisors lead remain safe and accessible,” Capps said.

She added that the board has a duty to stand up for the county and its elections.

Lee, who immigrated from Taiwan, said he understands how many in the immigrant community feel.

“My mom and dad walk down the street with U.S. (citizenship) papers every single day because they are terrified,” Lee said. “They’re terrified that ICE will pick them up and take them somewhere that they don’t know and I can’t find them.”

Lee added that he supports law and order but said the current ICE activity is “pure chaos.”

The second part of the proposal asks the office of the County Clerk, Recorder, Assessor & Elections to coordinate with the District Attorney’s Office, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and county counsel to establish training protocols for the June and November elections.

The different offices were asked to work together to prevent voter intimidation, prevent immigration enforcement on county land or polling locations, and any other activity that could interfere with voting.

The board also asked that the departments research how to promote the Employee Election Officer Program, which encourages election workers to become trained poll monitors.

The board also asked the elections division to work with the county information officer to coordinate public outreach on how to protect ballots and inform the public of their voting rights.

The final segment of the discussion instructs the Planning & Development Department to research and report back to the board on how the county can prohibit the siting, expansion, or use of immigration enforcement facilities and detention centers in unincorporated areas.

Nelson asked whether there were any plans for ICE detention centers in Santa Barbara County, but staff said they were unaware of any plans to build any facilities.

During deliberations, Nelson indicated that he was willing to support the section on protecting elections since it was an issue that people on both sides of the aisle care about. He asked that it be separated from the rest of the items.

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino acknowledged that the policy may not be enforceable but said he was willing to support the change. He echoed Lee’s comments of being a law-and-order guy, but said the actions of ICE in the past year are unconscionable.

“I don’t want to be sitting here explaining to my grandkids that … I was splitting the hair of what I thought was legal or not legal,” Lavagnino said. “You got to do something.”

— Noozhawk staff writer Daniel Green can be reached at dgreen@noozhawk.com.