THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IS NO LONGER GOING TO HOLD ALL UN DOCUMENTED PERSONS ARRESTED FOR DEPORTATION. SINCE 2008, ALL INMATES WITH QUESTIONABLE DOCUMENTATION, WERE PLACED ON AN IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, OR ICE HOLD TO AWAIT DEPORTATION. THAT AFTER DETERMINING, ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE INMATES, BEING HELD AND DEPORTED, ARE IN JAIL FOR NON VIOLENT CRIMES, LIKE PUBLIC INTOXICATION OR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE NOTED THAT IN A COUNTY THAT’S AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE IS LARGELY UNDOCUMENTED, DEPORTATION WAS BOTH A BURDEN ON THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE POLICY CHANGE, AND HAS NO PLANS TO INTERFERE WITH THE NEW POLICY.
