California sheriff vows to work with ICE in certain cases ‘even if I’m not supposed to’
Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman knows he could be on some “shaky ground” legally. But if certain undocumented immigrants are set to be released from his jail, he will consider picking up the phone and calling federal immigration authorities.
That could put him at odds with a California law that only allows jail operators to do so in specific cases.
“I just feel it’s my duty as sheriff,” he said.
Redman is one of several law enforcement officials across the state who are frustrated by a rule, known as Senate Bill 54 or the California Values Act, which limits their ability to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That includes largely preventing police chiefs and sheriffs from helping ICE officials arrest people.
Redman said his office is not going to round people up with the federal agency. He just wants more discretion to be able to contact ICE whenever someone is being released from jail.
“I’m sure the ACLU is going to love me on this one,” he said, referring to the American Civil Liberties Union.
“The public statements that he’s making don’t inspire safety, don’t inspire trust in his office among the immigrant community,” said Maria Romani, the director of the Immigrants’ Rights Program at the ACLU of Northern California. “If he does violate the law, I hope the Attorney General’s Office takes a close look.”
The California Attorney General’s Office declined to directly respond to Redman’s comments, but said in a statement: “We are closely monitoring law enforcement compliance with SB 54.”
During President Donald Trump’s first term, his administration unsuccessfully challenged the law in court.
In 2021, the ACLU accused then-Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones of collaborating with ICE. In a lawsuit, it said jail staff would illegally share the release dates and times for certain inmates. As part of a settlement, Jones and the county agreed to follow state law. County supervisors also approved a resolution affirming support for SB 54.
Redman said he will consider contacting ICE in cases where releasing someone from jail could pose a risk to the public. His goal is to make sure someone doesn’t go back out and commit more serious crimes, he said.
He had one example in mind: An inmate who was accused of a theft that helped shut down the county’s 911 system. Redman declined to name the person. But in 2023, his office arrested several men, over multiple days, on suspicion of cutting phone lines to steal copper.
“It was a huge impact,” Redman said, “and the people of Amador were really upset.”
Currently, sheriffs are allowed to contact ICE if an inmate has been convicted of an array of crimes, including murder, rape and assault. Additionally, they can do so in cases of burglary, robbery and theft, so it is not clear if contacting ICE in the case the sheriff referred to would violate the law.
But Redman said his willingness to challenge the rule goes beyond the one theft-related case.
“By adhering to this, the state is once again putting criminals first and victims and innocents last,” he said.
The sheriff might not have many inmates to contact ICE about. His county, east of Sacramento, has about 41,000 residents. Its jail can hold roughly 75 inmates. Sacramento County’s main jail, by comparison, can hold more than 2,000.
So why does Redman want to make this stand now?
He started receiving a lot of questions from residents. “The climate has definitely changed,” he said, since Trump returned to the White House.
“This is just another tool I can use, even if I’m not supposed to.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM with the headline "California sheriff vows to work with ICE in certain cases ‘even if I’m not supposed to’."
