SANTA ANA, Calif. — Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes Tuesday gave an annual report on immigration enforcement Tuesday to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, emphasizing that his department will not enforce federal immigration laws, but criticizing state law discouraging coordination with federal authorities.
Barnes said his department “does not engage in immigration enforcement,” adding, “my deputies are focused on criminal violations of state and local laws. We never ask the immigration status of suspects, witnesses, or those who report crime… We have not and will not participate in any local operations of enforcement actions by federal authorities enforcing immigration laws.”
But, the sheriff added, “My department will in no way impede federal law enforcement officials from carrying out their responsibilities.”…