Migrants Flee San Diego Despite “Super Sanctuary” Policy, Fearing Deportation

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San Diego County’s new “super sanctuary” policy, which restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, has failed to reassure many migrants. Instead of offering protection, it’s prompting them to self-deport, driven by the fear of harsher deportation measures under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Although the policy prevents local authorities from contacting ICE without a warrant, migrants are still fleeing the county voluntarily, unwilling to take the risk of remaining in a country where illegal immigration is being prioritized for removal. With ICE’s limited resources, relying on local sheriffs, like Sheriff Kelly Martinez who openly defies the sanctuary rules, only intensifies the uncertainty migrants face.

The consequences are severe. By choosing to leave, these migrants may permanently lose the opportunity to return and claim asylum, as noted by immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. This exposes the flawed nature of sanctuary policies—designed to enable illegal immigration while complicating enforcement, ultimately undermining the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.