ACLU sues Sacramento County Sheriff’s Workplace of working with ICE

The lawsuit accuses Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones of cooperating with ICE, which the ACLU stated in a press launch violates two state legal guidelines.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and Sacramento County, alleging the sheriff’s workplace is transferring jail inmates to immigration authorities.

The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 15 in Sacramento County Superior Courtroom by ACLU of Northern California on behalf of NorCal Resist, United Latinos and a Sacramento resident, Misael Echeveste.

Echeveste was “unlawfully transferred” to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2018, in accordance with Sean Riordan, senior workers lawyer at ACLU of Northern California.

The lawsuit accuses Jones of cooperating with ICE, which the ACLU stated in a press release violates two state legal guidelines.

“It is clear that the Sheriff’s Division is violating state legislation in systemic waves, specifically, the Sheriff’s Division is working with ICE to switch folks to ICE custody who’ve already served their sentences and needs to be going residence to their households and communities,” Riordan stated.

ABC10 reached out to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Workplace, who stated it’s a “long-standing coverage” to not touch upon pending litigation.

The 2 legal guidelines ACLU is accusing the sheriff’s workplace of violating are the TRUTH Act and the California Values Act.

The TRUTH Act requires that native legislation enforcement officers present an individual with written discover upfront of their switch to ICE. The legislation was signed Sept. 28, 2016, and went into impact on Jan. 1, 2017.

The California Values Act, also referred to as SB 54 or California’s sanctuary legislation, prohibits state and native legislation enforcement companies from utilizing cash or personnel to “examine, interrogate, detain or arrest individuals for immigration enforcement functions.” It was signed into legislation Oct. 5. 2017 and went into impact Jan. 1, 2018.

Riordan stated though it mentions each legal guidelines, the lawsuit is specializing in the California Values Act.

“The legislature has stated that native legislation enforcement can solely cooperate with ICE when anyone who’s in sheriff’s custody has sure prison historical past elements,” Riordan stated. “Now what we have seen over time and is demonstrated by means of inner Sheriff’s Division paperwork, is that there is a systemic follow of ignoring that legislation.”

In keeping with ACLU, one of many plaintiffs, Echeveste, was transferred to ICE in 2018 after serving six weeks in jail for a misdemeanor offense. He remained in ICE custody for a month and a half, in accordance with a press release. Echeveste was dropped at the U.S. as a 4-year-old and is now combating deportation to Mexico on account of the ICE switch.

“By means of this lawsuit, I hope to present a voice to different people who find themselves going by means of this case, different individuals who won’t know English in addition to me, since I used to be raised out right here in California,” Echeveste stated in a statement. “Simply because we weren’t born right here doesn’t imply we’re not human and that we’re not deserving of rights. I’m very fortunate to have plenty of assist in combating this, and I would like different folks to have the ability to battle for his or her rights too.”

Riordan instructed ABC10 that data, together with emails between deputies on the sheriff’s workplace that are connected to the court filing, present that this isn’t an remoted incident.

“We additionally hope that this lawsuit illustrates to lawmakers and the general public why tighter legal guidelines are wanted sooner or later as a result of it is clearly all too straightforward for a legislation enforcement company just like the Sacramento Sheriff’s Division looking to skirt the prevailing protections to take action,” Riordan stated.

The plaintiffs are in search of a courtroom order requiring the sheriff’s workplace to alter its insurance policies to adjust to California Values Act and TRUTH Act in addition to pay the plaintiff’s attorneys’ charges amongst different requests.