Front Page  »  

No anti-ICE zones for San Luis Obispo County

January 15, 2026

District Attorney Dan Dow

Statement from the SLO County District Attorney’s Office

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office recognizes and respects the long-standing constitutional right of individuals to peacefully protest, petition the government, and exercise free speech in public forums. These rights are fundamental to our democracy and remain protected here in San Luis Obispo County.

At the same time, we want to remind the community that while lawful protest is protected, activities that cross the line into violence or other criminal conduct are not. When protest activity becomes unlawful, it may result in arrest and prosecution, just as with any other criminal behavior referred to our office.

Our role is not to evaluate the political message being expressed, but to uphold the law fairly and impartially. If charges are filed, each defendant is treated with respect and dignity throughout the justice process and is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

We have also received questions regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the concept of so-called “ICE-Free Zones.” It is important for the public to understand that federal law applies nationwide under the U.S. Constitution, and local or state governments do not have the authority to prohibit lawful federal enforcement activities. Terms such as “ICE-Free Zones” or “sanctuary” designations are often symbolic and do not override federal jurisdiction.

As District Attorney Dan Dow has stated:

“I will always support the rights of people to protest; however, I strongly urge them to do so safely and within the limits of both Federal and California law. Any behavior that is violent or otherwise criminal will detract from the weight and value of your political speech and may lead to arrest and prosecution.”

We encourage everyone to exercise their rights peacefully, responsibly, and safely. Our office remains committed to upholding the Constitution, protecting public safety, and ensuring equal justice under the law for all.

 


Loading...
Subjects:         
Related:


32 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

“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


18 U.S.C. § 111 — Interfere, impede, or assault an ICE officer and you WILL be arrested.


Simplicity and the Rule of Law are difficult for DemoNcrats to understand. Communists are like that.


#DeportThemAll (with malice)


REAL American Patriot #Hispanics4Trump


WE want ILLEGAL INVADERS removed as well. Post haste!


5

First, the statement mischaracterizes the Nature of First Amendment rights. Peaceful speech and protest are not privileges “recognized” at the discretion of a prosecutor; they are fundamental constraints on government power. By presenting your office as a guarantor of these rights rather than an entity bound by them, you recast constitutional obligations as matters of mere official tolerance.

The legal analysis regarding federal immigration enforcement is also misleading. While local governments cannot prohibit federal enforcement, the anti-commandeering doctrine—upheld in Printz v. United States—expressly allows states and localities to decline to assist in such efforts. Your claim that local governments cannot meaningfully limit their involvement is legally incorrect.

Furthermore, the statement’s rhetoric exceeds your institutional mandate. Using your office to comment on the “value” of certain political speech or the validity of “ICE-Free Zones” moves beyond legal clarification into moral admonishment and political overreach. This bias is reinforced by a notable asymmetry: the text emphasizes protester restraint and criminal exposure while remaining silent on the constitutional limits of police conduct and use of force.

Finally, the repeated warning against “crossing the line” remains strategically vague. Without clear standards, this language serves less as legal guidance and more as an exercise of discretionary power intended to chill protected activity.

I urge you to revise this communication to accurately reflect the law and maintain the impartiality required of your office.


2

Thanks Dan Dow for that clear message

To my hometown community of San Luis Obispo. Keep up the good work.


39

At what point do our local police not remain our local police and instead become another branch of the DHS? I was jumped by ICE 12/29 in SLO on my way to work at 615am. This is all a consequence of Democrats flooding our country with illegals. I consider federal agents nothing more than King George’s men. They should just sail back to Washington DC.


-76

You bring up a great point, we all suffer when our borders are left open. Then the state makes it worse by providing healthcare, well fair, food, drivers licenses and subsidized rent. Benefits to people that have no steak in our system, I for one am tired of paying for cheep labor to benefit corporate California and the elites.

Who’s to blame, the politicians of this state. Hold them personally responsible for this attack on working class by refusing to pay state income tax if you draw a paycheck update your dependents to 9 or 10 then file but don’t pay.


12

“This is all a consequence of Democrats flooding our country with illegals.” Precisely..


31

ICE has been sorely needed since 2003. They were efficient and effective to arrest illegals and gang members by operating undercover. They used to set up stings to round up groups of thugs.

The current clowns AKA as ice are a bunch of clumsy clowns. There can be 75 of them in an area for a week and they haul in 5 guys.

Hanging out in Home Depot parking lots. Ya. Smart work dumb asses. Ha ha. The only ones dumber are the ones thinking ICE is doing a good job.

I could get 5 of my friends together and round up more gangsters in a weekend than 75 ICE thugs can snare in a week.

The inefficiencies of ICE is just more reasons why republicans are going to get wiped out in the mid terms. They still have time to show an ounce of common sense. If they dont-they are going to wonder. Duh. What happened?

Wake up.


-49

You fail to recognize that sanctuary states were non existent in 2003 and they cooperated with ICE back then by turning criminals over to them instead of releasing those criminals into the streets. Since you fail to recognize the difference in the cooperation in 2003 compared to today everything else you said in your comment is just a bunch of made up jibberish.


17

ICE is not “hanging Out in Home Depot parking lots” They made an arrest of a criminal felon illegal alien whom they attempted to get from the local courthouse but the judge let him go… and the Feds tracked him to the Home Depot… I’ve heard of no other parking lot… home depot or other…. please don’t listen to the liberal media… they lie and hide truth…


21
1 2