Multiple residents and advocacy groups used public comment Sept. 30 to press the Marin County Board of Supervisors for action after reports that the Marin County Sheriff's Office received about $1.2 million under a federal program commonly referred to as the Alien Assistance Grant Program or State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAP).

Tammy Edmondson of MV Free said the grant "in exchange for quietly reporting more than a thousand local immigrants to ICE" raises serious concerns. "From the perspective of ICE, we're talking about a nationwide database that prioritizes deportees," she said, urging the board to "take a closer look."

Other speakers echoed concerns about legality and community safety: Wendy Todd cited the California Values Act (SB 54) and said the county should direct the sheriff to terminate participation in the program; Patty Hoyt and Nancy Miller said the amount and reporting scope described online conflicts with statements the sheriff made at a Truth Act forum earlier in the year and asked the supervisors to use budget levers or other oversight to obtain fuller disclosure.

Supporters of immigrant protections and critics of the program noted possible consequences for victims seeking help from law enforcement and for community trust. "Fear of deportation was one of the biggest barriers to building trust," a former Sonoma County social worker said. Several speakers called for the board to withhold funding until the sheriff clarifies the county's participation and to demand transparent Truth Act reporting.

Why it matters: Speakers said the program could undermine public safety by deterring victims from reporting crimes and could be inconsistent with state law that restricts local assistance to federal immigration enforcement. They urged the supervisors to use their authority over the sheriff's budget and Truth Act oversight to require fuller disclosure or a termination of the grant relationship.

Board response: The county executive later noted in his report that SCAP is a long-standing federal reimbursement program counties use to recover costs for detaining individuals already in local custody; he said the county remains compliant with California law and that 35 other counties participate. No formal board action was taken Sept. 30 beyond public comment; multiple speakers asked the board to take follow-up steps.