Sheriff speaks out about role in immigration enforcement

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and your deputies have not, are not and will not engage in any type of immigration enforcement,” said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco on a YouTube video posted on Feb. 6 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=7najc2EBaLo).

Bianco spoke out personally after the Board of Supervisors debated and passed a resolution two days earlier. The resolution began

“. . . Riverside County is a vibrant, compassionate, and welcoming county for all law-abiding immigrants and refugees; and commits to safeguarding the civil rights of all our residents to the fullest extent provided by the law.”

Bianco stressed that immigration enforcement is the “. . . sole responsibility of the Federal government.”

He was attempting to alleviate concerns and fears raised during the past two County Supervisor’s meetings about the role of his office in immigration enforcement.

Bianco feels that the connection between the immigrant community and his deputies is being threatened by misleading information and fear mongering.

“. . . [they] are using our fears to divide what is normally a great relationship between our residents and law enforcement,” he explained. “Stories of deputies conducting raids at schools, businesses and churches simply is not true.”

“I will do everything I can within the confines of the Sanctuary State laws of California to cooperate with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to remove criminals for our jails,” Biance stressed.

While protecting county residents and cooperating with ICE are related, he does not want immigrants afraid to call the Sheriff’s Office.

“I am committed to make Riverside County the safest place in California for all residents, nonresidents and visitors,” he stated.