In Santa Barbara, ICE Jailhouse Arrests Far More Frequent than Official Reports Show

In Santa Barbara, ICE jailhouse arrests far more frequent than official reports show

SANTA BARBARA — The white van was already parked outside the Santa Barbara County jail before Gustavo’s release in January. Two ICE agents, masked and armed, were ready in the lobby with handcuffs.  A few days prior, Gustavo was arrested by local police after a fight with his wife, and a judge ordered him to wear an ankle monitor that would track his blood alcohol level. To await trial, he expected to return to his home in Santa Barbara and his …

Investigation: ICE arrests at county jails far more frequent than official reports show

State sanctuary law puts strict limits on which jail inmates can be transferred to immigration agents. Data and interviews reveal actual arrests are more common than previously known.