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San Diego County Approves Civil Liberties Ordinance Amidst Debate
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an updated Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules Ordinance (CLEAR Ordinance) on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, with a 3-1 vote. Supervisor Jim Desmond was the lone dissenter, while Supervisor Joel Anderson was absent. The ordinance aims to protect residents from intimidation and ensure county resources are not used for immigration enforcement or discriminatory targeting.
Key Provisions of the CLEAR Ordinance
The updated ordinance, proposed by Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, includes the following measures:
- Judicial Warrants for Federal Access: Requires judicial warrants for federal access to non-public areas of county properties.
- Multilingual Signage: Mandates signs in multiple languages informing visitors of their rights.
- Contractor Compliance: Requires county contractors, grantees, and lessees to enforce civil-rights protections.
- Transparency Reporting: Calls for an annual public report detailing U.S. Department of Homeland Security activity and any cooperation with the county sheriff.
- Access to Services: Supports residents’ access to county services – including healthcare, marriage licenses, and assistance programs – “without fear of intimidation or detainment.”
Implementation and Funding
The ordinance will take effect in 30 days, according to Lawson-Remer’s office. It will be enforced, in part, through agreements with the county’s contractors. According to the county, there will be no change in net general fund cost and no additional staff years, utilizing existing staff time in the Purchasing and Contracting Department and Communications Office, along with service charges to client departments and general purpose revenue.
Worth a look