Front Page  »  

Fear and anger over immigration in San Luis Obispo County

August 7, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

Dozens of community members voiced their concerns that federal agents are kidnapping undocumented immigrants off the streets during an emotional San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday

Yearly, the county applies for grants from Homeland Security to be used to protect the county and its infrastructure. Of this year $316,483 grant, $219,569 was earmarked for the SLO County Sheriff’s Office for equipment such as helmets, night vision binoculars, and drones.

In the days leading up to the supervisor meeting, social media postings alleged local law enforcement would use the grant funds to support ICE and the deportation of immigrants. The posts wanted the public to ask the Board of Supervisors to reject the grant funds.

Prior to public comment, Sheriff Ian Parkinson explained his department is not involved in immigration and is following state laws regarding assisting ICE.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there,” Parkinson said. “We cannot participate and we do not participate with ICE. Until the law changes, we are going to follow the law.”

Public speakers voiced their concerns that taking federal money could lead to ICE demanding assistance in removing undocumented immigrants. Community members talked of kidnappings, torture and Nazi style concentration camps.

“Its exactly like what happened in Germany where people are snatched and sent to the gulag,” Debbie Highfill said. “Masked men grabbing people, and we think this is from decades past bad behavior. I would like to see this money refused.”

Supervisor Bruce Gibson asked Parkinson if his department will identity what agencies are operating in SLO County.

Parkinson said that people have a right to know who is arresting them, and that before laying hands on a suspect, law enforcement should identify themselves. Ian then condemned the doxing of ICE agents.

Gibson said the grant funds do not tie the county to ICE while condemning the federal agency.

“What we’ve seen from ICE is inhumane, it’s illegal, it’s immoral, and frankly, it’s un-American,” Gibson said. “I don’t think that rejecting $300,000 of these monies is going to send nearly as strong a message as you have today.”

The board then voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, including accepting the Homeland Security grant money.

Because we believe the public needs the facts, the truth, CalCoastNews has not put up a paywall because it limits readership. However, we are seeking qualification as a paper of record, which will allow us to publish public notices, but it requires 5,000 paid subscribers.

Your subscription will help us to continue investigating and reporting the news.

Support CalCoastNews, subscribe today, click here.

 


Loading...
Subjects:     
Related:


41 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I, an American Patriot of Hispanic descent, surname and dark skin to match, absolutely voted for this.


ILLEGAL means ILLEGAL


#SelfDeport


OR WE WILL


#DeportThemAll (with malice if need be)


“It’s a crime to enter the country illegally under Title 8 United States Code 1325, and it’s really pathetic that any member of Congress [doesn’t] understand what the law says,”-Tom Homan, Border Czar

⬇️


42

So I’ve heard before: When this started, There were 600,000 Criminals that are illegally here, that have been charged with a Crime by our courts. (Rpe, Mrdr, kidnpng, Theft, Trafficking, etc.) 71% of Independents agreed to go after them to deport. 73% Democrats, and 89% Republicans, all agreed to deport. So when I hear of people complaining about Ice going after these people, Its the minority! Small % in comparison!


34

Well there is been raids at Home Depot at work cites and restaurants. Many of them do not have criminal records even fox news reports that. Everyone agrees that undocumented migrants who commit serious crimes should be taken care of. But the way is happening only because the administration need to meet its quota is not the right way.


0

Thank you, Sheriff Parkinson. Thank you Board of Supervisors. Please separate fact from fiction, folks. Stop the hysteria.


52

Danger! Danger! Will Robinson!


-9

Gibson 50/50 grind. Ice is bad, but we want the money.


27

Parkinson said that “people have a right to know who is arresting them.” The public also has a right to know who these imports are that reside among us. Image isn’t everything.


45

What part of “illegal” does Gibson not understand. If you entered the country illegally you have no right to be here and you are a criminal. All illegal immigrants need to be arrested and deported. If you break a law you need to face the consequences. Illegal entry is a crime, so is car-jacking, robbery, murder, etc. you commit the crime you need to pay the consequences. Gibson, try putting legal citizens first – illegals need to go.


60

Well ya know the resources taken by the Department of Homeland security to be placed on ICE control is now putting legal Citizens last. FBI is not placing the same focus on white crime and other crimes are being put on hold under the DOJ’s and DHS’s request.


-1

Upside-down man be gone soon.


31

Trump wants to spwnd $10 million raise a statue of confederate monument… still think this isn’t about white supremacy? Blatant racism that is hurting our country for no good reason :/ Shameful behavior by the current administration. An eternal stain in our history.


-53

With just 6 months on the job, now who would you vote for given the choice again, Biden or Trump? Ya, your back is against the wall and words can’t run either.


18

He wants to return American history to it’s rightful place. If that’s a statue of GEN Lee, then so be it.


Violent leftist democrats enjoy nothing more, than to erase THEIR anti-American history.


17

what is it to be proud of when it comes to white supremacy? do you support it?


-1

because it seems like you do support it given the fact that you okay with GEN lee’s statue.


-2

Perhaps wanting to re-establish a statue destroyed by demented violent anarchists simply means wanting to preserve American History. Democrats need to be stopped in their on-going efforts to erase or re-write history, especially when it is their own dark history.


1

AHAHahahahaaaaa! Gibson whines and cries and complains and spews “un-American” for anyone to accept this money……..


….then votes to accept it.


We can’t get rid of this guy any faster.


47
1 2 3