Residents of San Mateo County were met with an unsettling scene outside the Maguire Correctional Facility on Wednesday night, where an individual, freshly released from the county’s hold, was detained by persons undisclosed, bearing the hallmarks of federal immigration enforcement. Sheriff Christina Corpus addressed the incident publicly, stressing transparency and affirming the department's commitment to the community's diverse constituents.
According to the statement by Sheriff Corpus, the apprehension occurred at around 9:30 PM on Wednesday. The agents wore ballistic vests and gear typical of immigration enforcement, yet their specific agency affiliation remains elusive. Sheriff Corpus expressed that no personnel from the Sheriff’s Office partook in, nor did they facilitate, the detainment on the public sidewalk abutting the correctional facility.
The incident quickly garnered attention, as it starkly contrasts with the Sheriff’s Office's staunch policy, which forbids collaboration or information exchange with federal immigration entities regarding individuals in their custody. As cited directly from Sheriff Corpus’s statement, "Our mission is to serve all members of our community, regardless of their immigration status."
While the local agency adheres to a code of non-cooperation with federal immigration agencies, Sheriff Corpus acknowledged that they cannot prevent such agencies from accessing public records or court documents. Since her tenure began in January 2023, the Sheriff's Office claims not to have delivered a single individual to ICE custody.
