The number of people transferred from local jails to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under state law decreased slightly in 2025 compared to the year before, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday.

Sheriff Bill Brown and staff gave the annual report to the Board of Supervisors as required by the TRUTH Act (Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds).

The state law outlines when the Sheriff’s Office is allowed to respond to ICE requests for information and access to people in its custody.

While transfers done under Senate Bill 54 were reported to decrease last year, federal immigration enforcement agents have reportedly arrested dozens of people on jail property as they’re released from custody.

The people arrested in jail lobbies, in parking lots or other jail property generally do not qualify for the SB 54 transfers, Brown said.

Aside from filing requests to the Sheriff’s Office, he noted that ICE can get information on people in jail custody through fingerprint records. The Sheriff’s Office website includes a custody tracker with release dates.

Around 40 people from local activist organizations gathered outside the and later packed the meeting room at the County Administration Building in Santa Maria to demand the Sheriff’s Office end collaboration with ICE.

“They don’t have to cooperate with ICE; they choose to do it,” said Primitiva Hernandez, executive director of 805UndocuFund, in a speech.

Under state law, local law enforcement can provide information to ICE about people in jail custody and cooperate with transfer requests under specific circumstances.

This applies to people who have been convicted of specific felony and misdemeanor crimes.

Sheriff’s personnel do not enforce immigration law, check the immigration status of people in custody, hold anyone beyond their release date without a warrant signed by a judge, or share information with ICE unless it meets the requirements, Chief Custody Deputy Ryan Sullivan said.

Noozhawk

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