122 inmates detained by ICE officials at Monterey County Jail
New information about the number of inmates detained by federal agents at the Monterey County Jail. Between August 14 and November 9, 122 inmates with criminal convictions have moved into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. This comes as the dust settles after the latest meeting between the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Immigration Coalition.
“We’re disappointed that he was unwilling to change his decision that allows ICE agents full access to the jail,” said Michelle Welsh, local attorney and board of director for the ACLU in Northern California.
Citing public safety concerns, Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal isn’t letting up on his plan to let ICE work out of the Monterey County Jail. ICE has been identifying inmates under the “Priority Enforcement Program,” those who have either committed a felony, a serious misdemeanor or had three separate misdemeanors. Through a national database, ICE would tell the jail which inmates it was concerned about, not vice versa.
However, different immigration groups and the American Civil Liberties Union feel an inmates’ civil rights could be violated.
“These people that are identified and turned over to ICE are being denied due process,” Welsh explained, “their right to an attorney, they’re being denied equal treatment so there are some very serious civil liberties concerns here that we hope he will hear and address.”
We spoke to the Sheriff’s Office on Friday. They are trying to find middle ground because the Sheriff’s Office cannot offer legal advice or recommend counsel to any inmate.
“The coalition has some concerns with the due process for the people who fall under the Priority Enforcement Program who are going to be taken by ICE,” said Mike Moore, Chief Deputy of Corrections Operations Bureau. “So really we were trying to look at a way to get a compromise with that where if someone is notified that someone has fallen within the PEP Program, that there’s some information that we can give to the inmate. Who to contact at immigration or what their rights are under the immigration prior to either having contact with ICE or as they get taken. They’ll at least have an attorney they can contact and talk to about their rights.”
The Sheriff’s Office says it wants to make clear, its deputies are not targeting anyone over immigration status. Both sides do want to hear from the community. Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker is holding a town hall on the hot button issue next week. It will be held at the San Pablo Church in Seaside on Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m.
