🚨 NEW According to DHS, Marcos Iriarte-Valdez—the man accused of stabbing a 68-year-old man in front of his home in Martinez—is an illegal alien. Due to California law, local law enforcement could not turn him over to ICE when he was previously arrested for violating a protective order in 2025 or for burglary earlier this year. Contra Costa County currently allows limited cooperation with ICE after a conviction for certain serious or violent crimes, which is permitted under state law. However, the Board of Supervisors is considering a new non-cooperation policy that would prohibit law enforcement from voluntarily cooperating with ICE in almost all circumstances—even when the individual is a convicted murderer. Today, immigration activists organized to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting to demand that the Board pass an ordinance codifying strict non-cooperation. There was extensive discussion of “safety” and “protecting residents,” but the practical effect would be to shield illegal aliens from being sent home, including those who are dangerous criminals. One speaker accused ICE of being murderers while arguing for protections for actual convicted murderers. The Board will consider the policy change at its September 8 meeting.