The terrible cost of California’s ‘sanctuary’ – Latest News
California’s “sanctuary” insurance policies limit the degree to which native law enforcement can work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is a coverage that has a terrible cost in human lives.
One life was that of Todd Stewart, 68 years outdated. He was a retired engineer, a father of two, and a longtime resident of his quiet neighborhood in Martinez, Calif.
On Aug. 6, prosecutors say Stewart encountered a burglar in his home storage and was stabbed to death.
Unfortunately, California’s state law created a system that may in the end fail Todd Stewart. The man charged with Stewart’s alleged homicide, Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, encountered the felony justice system and was identified to federal immigration authorities, however California’s sanctuary insurance policies labored in Iriarte-Valdez’s favor.
Nichelle Holmes has been appointed to function a Judge within the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Holmes, of Solano County, has served as a Deputy District Attorney on the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office since 2012. Governor Gavin Newsom
Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during an occasion about new financial savings for California car consumers and a main milestone within the state’s clean vitality future on the Bridge Yard Facility in Oakland, California, on Aug. 7, 2026. (2026 Anadolu) Anadolu through Getty Images
Nearly 11 months earlier than this assault, ICE lodged an immigration detainer towards Iriarte-Valdez figuring out him as a Venezuelan national with Spanish citizenship who was unlawfully current within the United States. Despite this detainer, and in deference to California’s sanctuary legal guidelines, ICE was not alerted to the release of Iriarte-Valdez after he dedicated a number of crimes.
In reality, Iriarte-Valdez was already dealing with three felony housebreaking prices involving occupied residences, and had been taken back into custody for allegedly violating the situations of his home detention. Yet on Aug. 5, a Contra Costa County choose launched him on his own recognizance.
Todd Stewart was murdered the following day.
This is the predictable consequence of insurance policies that stop native authorities from notifying ICE when a suspect with an lively detainer and severe felony prices is launched.
As of early 2026, the Department of Homeland Security famous that California had did not honor over 4,500 deportation “detainer” requests. In San Diego County, the Sheriff’s Department has rejected over 80% of requests for inmate release dates to ICE.
As mayor of El Cajon, I’ve been clear about the place I stand. Local law enforcement ought to have the ability to do their job, shield their communities, and work with federal authorities.
Yet California’s sanctuary insurance policies, together with the notorious Senate Bill 54, have positioned pointless restrictions on that cooperation, limiting the flexibility of native communities to make public security selections for themselves.
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Marcos Iriarte-Valdez is pictured in a photograph launched by the Martinez Police Department on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. The division launched a murder investigation after receiving a number of 9-1-1 calls concerning a subject who was reportedly stabbed on Francis Court. Martinez Police Department
Todd Stewart, a man with grey hair, a beard, and glasses, smiling on the digicam.
To add insult to damage right here in San Diego County, Sheriff Kelly Martinez simply introduced that ICE will no longer be allowed to make use of sheriff’s amenities for coaching or firearms {qualifications}, citing “community concerns.”
While US Customs and Border Protection will proceed to have entry to the Otay Range, the choice to expel ICE additional limits sensible cooperation with the very federal company charged with eradicating people who’re within the nation illegally and pose a public security risk.
Our native leaders can not declare to prioritize public security whereas steadily narrowing the flexibility of law enforcement to work with ICE.
El Cajon has skilled this battle firsthand. That is why our metropolis, with the help of the America First Policy Institute, is difficult California’s sanctuary insurance policies in court docket.
The coronary heart of our case is a easy query: Why ought to Sacramento stop native governments from cooperating with federal authorities to implement federal law?
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to the Stewart case has been to level the finger on the federal authorities. His workplace insists nothing in California law stops ICE from implementing federal immigration law.
But that avoids the true subject. No one claims California can stop ICE from implementing the law. The actual subject is whether or not California’s state law ought to stop native law enforcement from sharing fundamental info with federal authorities when somebody is in custody, has an lively detainer, and is about to be launched.
Opposition to sanctuary insurance policies just isn’t opposition to immigration, and America has welcomed generations of legal immigrants who’ve made this nation stronger. El Cajon is an extremely numerous group, and I’m proud of that.
The query right here is far more fundamental: When somebody who’s on this nation illegally repeatedly commits crimes, why would we make it more durable for native police to work with federal authorities to take away that individual?
Todd Stewart’s homicide ought to pressure lawmakers in Sacramento to confront that query. Cooperation between native police and federal immigration authorities shouldn’t be handled as a political assertion. When it involves repeat offenders and people accused of severe crimes, it’s a public security software.
For years, California politicians have defended sanctuary insurance policies within the identify of compassion. But our first obligation as elected officers is to guard the people we serve.
Todd Stewart deserved higher.
Bill Wells is the mayor of El Cajon, California, and a member of the America First Policy Institute’s Mayors’ Council.
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