A member of the board of supervisors in California’s second-largest county abruptly resigned Friday, citing safety concerns after leading an effort to protect people from deportation.
Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas, who represents a heavily Hispanic district that stretches to the U.S.-Mexico border, released a statement on social media sharing her decision to “conclude my tenure as County Supervisor, completing my first term this January 6, 2025.”
She won reelection in November, taking more than 62 percent of the vote in her race.
“Due to personal safety and security reasons, I will not take the oath of office for a second term,” she said, without providing details.
As board chair, Vargas received fierce online criticism for backing a measure that sought to prevent county resources from being used to support federal immigration enforcement.
The measure passed this month 3-1 but the county sheriff, Kelly Martinez, said she would not honor the policy, which is intended to help shield people from the mass deportations promised by President-elect Donald Trump.