Sheriff McDonnell visits Manhattan Beach Rotarians, addresses sanctuary city opposition
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell became a target for immigration activists’ ire last March when he opposed Senate Bill 54, the so-called “sanctuary state” legislation prohibiting local and state police agencies from engaging in immigration enforcement. McDonnell was the featured speaker Monday morning at the Manhattan Beach Rotary Club’s weekly breakfast at Verandas Beach House. During his talk he said that despite the fact that he became the face of the legislation’s opposition, his stance was not ideological but rather grounded in practical policing matters. “I was painted as anti-reform, anti-immigrant,” said McDonnell, who grew up in Boston. “My parents are immigrants, from Ireland. I am not that way at all. But I want to be realistic, and I want to be able to set people up for success. So we pushed back aggressively because it wouldn’t have allowed ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] into our jails at all.” McDonnell said the legislation initially proposed by State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin DeLeon would have prohibited any kind of cooperation between ICE and the Sheriff’s Department. “It wouldn’t have allowed us to talk at all,” he said. “Now, we rely…
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