33 Elected Officials Issue Joint Statement Opposing ICE Contract
Today, Thirty-three elected officials submitted a joint letter urging the Escondido City Council to cancel City agreements allowing agents of DHS to continue use of the city-owned firing range.
The letter endorses the goals and recommendations of the Sowing Seeds of Dignity Coalition in response to the Escondido’s Police Department approval of an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security for use of the city’s firing range.
Oceanside Deputy Mayor Ed Joyce stated, “In this moment city leaders are being called to reduce harm from masked federal agents acting without accountability. It is my hope that Escondido’s leaders find a way to end the contract with ICE as a means to hold public trust and reduce harm across all of our communities.”
Vista City Council Member Corinna Contreras stated, “We are sending this letter today to the Escondido City Council because the continued use of the Escondido firing range only magnifies the harmful impacts of ICE, not just in the city of Escondido, but throughout the County. We are urging the Council to terminate the agreements for the benefit of all our constituents in the County.”
The elected officials on the letter represent constituencies throughout the County, including over 500,000 students in districts led by Boards of Education.
The letter makes three recommendations to the Escondido City Council:
Support the community demands to terminate the Memorandum of Agreement and any agreements with DHS that allow for the use of the Escondido firing range.
Reject any future contract with any DHS agency that engages in border security or immigration enforcement.
Join an intergovernmental preparedness plan of officials who represent constituents of North County to address the increased immigration enforcement in our region.
The letter was organized by Sowing Seeds of Dignity Coalition, a community-led coalition working in North San Diego County. Letter can be found here.
The public has an opportunity to speak directly to the City Council and urge termination of the ICE Firing Range agreements on Wednesday, February 25, at 5 PM at Escondido City Hall.