Santa Clara County reevaluates ICE hold policy

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County is reevaluating its policy that bars it from turning over suspects to immigration for possible deportation. This follows the murder of Kate Steinle on San Francisco's waterfront last month. Already, the change in policy is facing opposition.

After Steinle's shooting death at Pier 14, concern has been raised that public safety could be at risk when a dangerous person is not turned over by local officials to Homeland Security and ICE for possible deportation.

A member of the working group re-evaluating Santa Clara County's policy is Supervisor Cindy Chavez.

"We want to make sure that people aren't afraid to dial 911," she said. "And at the same time, we don't want people to be afraid of people in our community. So I think what that means is it's time for a really good, thoughtful discussion."

The working group meets later this month. Its recommendation would go to the Board of Supervisors at the end of September. Santa Clara County's policy was adopted four years ago.

Sheriff Laurie Smith believes dangerous felons should be turned over to federal agents.

"My position remains the same," she said. "I think that we ought to place ICE holds, serious and violent felonies, certainly."

Lisa Marie Castellanos, Director of Policy and Organizing at San Jose's Sacred Heart Community Services, thinks any change will rekindle distrust toward police.

"Folks have told us they'll think twice about contacting the police," she said. "That's the immediate chilling effect that will happen in terms of people reporting crimes that they experience or that they witness."

Mayor Sam Liccardo think public safety is the key issue.

"We're talking about a very small group of people who commit violent felonies and serious felonies. How we treat them, I think, is very different than obviously how we're going to treat residents who are law-abiding," he said.

Click here for full coverage on the Pier 14 shooting.

Steinle's family and coworkers have set up online fundraising pages to raise money for charities that were important to her. Click here for details on her family's page and click here for information on her coworkers' page.