Pima County Develops Strategy Amid Enhanced Federal Immigration Actions
In response to intensified federal immigration enforcement, Pima County has devised a comprehensive strategy to manage the situation locally. This initiative follows the Trump administration’s decision to retract previous guidelines that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in sensitive areas like educational institutions, places of worship, and healthcare facilities.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved the release of a memo crafted by County Attorney Laura Conover’s office, which provides guidance on how local authorities should engage with ICE agents.
According to the memo, county personnel are advised against physically obstructing ICE agents from entering public properties. However, they are instructed to grant access during emergencies or when presented with a judicial warrant deemed legitimate.
Typically, ICE agents possess an administrative warrant, distinct from a judicial warrant, as it neither establishes probable cause for a criminal offense nor necessitates the same level of compliance.
The memo emphasizes, “We must comply with lawful orders and should make all efforts to do so as quickly as practicable, but we must also protect the County and its employees from unauthorized interference with the fulfilment of statutory and other duties and, in the worst case, from fraudulent actors.”
County employees are directed to consult the county attorney’s office concerning the warrant’s details before proceeding with any action. The attorney’s office also indicates that further guidelines for managing immigration enforcement may be forthcoming.
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