San Mateo County officials confirm commitment to immigrants

Mueller, alongside community leaders, said: “We understand that concern and confusion are running high right now. Our commitment to the well-being and dignity of our community remains steadfast. The county remains fully equipped and operating as usual and our departments and partners continue to provide essential services and resources.”

The press conference was called as the president had called for the National Guard and federal agents to go to San Francisco. While San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the action was called off early Thursday, officials, including Mueller, emphasized all county services remain available to residents regardless of immigration status, including health care, food and emergency and safety-net programs through the Human Services Agency and San Mateo Medical Center.

Among the community leaders were educators from throughout the county, including Hector Camacho, executive director of Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion at the San Mateo County Office of Education. 

Many families are hesitant to send their children to school amid rampant immigration enforcement. Camacho and peers spoke to the need to ensure schools are places where students and families can feel safe. 

“To our families, do what you need to do to protect your family’s well-being,” Camacho said. “Know that our schools will remain safe, supportive places where children are cared for and always welcome.” 

Throughout San Mateo County, educators are working to ensure each school district has accurate information that can be dispersed to all families in their respective languages spoken at home, Camacho said. 

“Reach out to your school if you need help,” Camacho said. “Our schools will not be places of fear.” 

Julie Lind, executive officer of the San Mateo Labor Council, spoke to the integral part the immigrant community plays in San Mateo County. 

“The threats, raids and rhetoric are attacks on all of us,” Lind said. “When one group is targeted, our entire community is weakened.” 

“You have rights, you belong and you are not alone,” Lind said. 

In 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of county resources — including staff time, funds, equipment and facilities — to assist or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement except when required by law or court order. The measure was designed to strengthen trust between immigrant residents and local government.

David Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, said Wednesday that aggressive tactics are meant to instill fear in people who simply want to work, send their children to school and walk streets in safety. 

“I want to assure our residents that the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is prohibited from cooperating with ICE, including providing access to our jails or providing the agency with anyone’s personal information,” he said in a press release. 

Undersheriff Dan Perea sent out a press release Thursday confirming that the Sheriff’s Office does not engage in immigration enforcement and that it only complies with judicial warrants.

“While we do not participate in immigration enforcement, we will not interfere with or attempt to prevent federal immigration operations,” Perea said in the release. “Our focus continues to be on maintaining public safety and building trust within our communities.”

U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, expressed relief that the possible federal deployment in San Francisco was “called off in recognition of the reality that Mayor Lurie and local public safety officials are more than capable of addressing community safety issues.”

Still, Mullin said concern about other communities being targeted in the Bay Area is “understandable.”

“We must continue to remain vigilant in tracking federal agency actions in San Francisco and across the Bay Area,” Mullin said, “and ensure our communities are protected from unnecessarily cruel and inhumane treatment.”

The supervisors urged residents to stay calm, rely on verified information and call the County’s Rapid Response Hotline — (203) 666-4472 or (203) NO-MIGRA — if they see or experience immigration enforcement activity.