The Sheriff of Los Angeles Alex Villanueva at a press conference on 30 January announced that he would fulfill his main campaign promise. Starting Friday, it removes the agents of the Immigration service (ICE) of all the prisons in the County. But activists for the rights of immigrants are unlikely to be happy with this decision. The Sheriff also stated that he will continue to transfer to ICE illegal immigrants to be deported. In accordance with its new policy, illegal immigrants would be detained in prisons and deliver to ICE.
Under state Law on asylum, which entered into force a year ago, a California sheriffs are forbidden to transfer to ICE detainees who have been convicted of any of more than 800 serious offences such as traffic violations and trespassing.
Have Villanueva is possible to reduce the amount transferred to ICE illegal immigrants. It is connected to a number of crimes that prosecutors can be regarded as a criminal offence, as a misdemeanor. For example, assault or vandalism. Earlier this month, the Sheriff said that he intends to stop issuing illegal immigrants convicted of these ambiguous from the point of view of justice, crime.
Despite the fact that Villanueva has added many types of crimes in a «defensive» list, he said he «does not expect a sharp reduction in the number of inmates transferred to ICE». In 2017 1223 suspected illegal immigrants were transferred to ICE in the prisons or the courts.
On Wednesday, the Sheriff also vigorously defended his decision to rehire Karl Mandana, a Sheriff’s Deputy who was fired for alleged domestic violence. Later he became assistant in the election campaign Villanueva. Friend Mandana another assistant Sheriff accused Mandana in domestic violence and stalking, and provided some video evidence.
The Sheriff promised to review all dismissals for 4 years, and predicted that many laid-off employees will offer to return to work.
