Protesters Warn Federal Funds Could Link SLO County to ICE, Supervisors Disagree

Community Concerns and Grant Acceptance

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors accepted an annual U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant for new public safety gear on Tuesday, despite community concerns that accepting the funds could inadvertently involve the county in a cooperative agreement with the federal agency overseeing Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). The over $300,000 grant, which the county has received every year since 2001, will be used to purchase new equipment for the Sheriff’s Office, fire department, and elections office to enhance emergency response and preparedness capabilities.

The meeting was attended by dozens of concerned residents who called for the board to reject the grant. Signs reading "ICE out of 805" were visible throughout the crowd. According to county supervisors and Sheriff Ian Parkinson, the Homeland Security funds are regularly accepted by the county and do not indicate cooperation with ICE. However, many residents saw the grant as "blood money," arguing that grants often come with hidden conditions.

"Grants come with strings," said Mary Robinson, a resident from Morro Bay. "There's always strings attached to a grant." After a lengthy public comment period, during which some attendees changed their stance after hearing Parkinson’s comments about state laws limiting local law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration agents, the board accepted the funds.

"We cannot participate, and we do not participate, in any contact with ICE," Parkinson stated.

What Will the DHS Grant Fund?

The federal Homeland Security grant will provide $316,482 to SLO County for specialized safety and law enforcement equipment across multiple departments. The largest portion, $219,569, will go to the Sheriff’s Office for two search and surveillance drones, six sets of helmet-mounted night vision goggles, and eight door breaching tools for SWAT team entries. Additional funding includes $47,000 for drones, $73,000 for night vision binoculars, and $99,569 for door breaching tools.

The SLO County Fire Department will receive $75,000 for hazardous material detection equipment, including $35,000 for a mercury vapor detector, $15,000 for a methane gas leak detector, and $25,000 for an ultrasonic leak detector. Finally, $21,913 will fund election security improvements for the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, including $6,913 for electronic door access control locks and $15,000 for plexiglass security barriers.

The grant funds will be distributed retroactively, with the county covering the costs before receiving federal reimbursement.

Does the DHS Grant Tie SLO County to ICE?

The conversation about the Homeland Security grant began at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, where Parkinson addressed what he called "misinformation" about the relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. He emphasized that local law enforcement has not been involved in immigration matters for decades.

California’s TRUST, TRUTH, and Values Acts place limitations on local law enforcement officers from communicating and cooperating with ICE. These laws prohibit police from detaining individuals based solely on immigration status or sharing their status with federal authorities. They also require officers to notify undocumented immigrants in jail when ICE agents ask for their release date and declare California a "sanctuary state" for non-criminal undocumented immigrants.

"If there was suspicion of something being given specifically for immigration enforcement, I don't think it would get approved through the state," Parkinson said. Despite his reasoning, some attendees remained unconvinced.

Community Sentiment and Public Comments

Dozens of people wrote in ahead of the board meeting or commented during the session. Many expressed concerns over ICE tactics, such as sending masked men in plain clothes and unidentifiable vehicles on immigration operations. One email commenter described the grant as a "bribe" offered by ICE to "help them with their despicable acts."

Multiple public comments and emails compared ICE detention centers to World War II concentration camps. Others urged the board to designate SLO County as a sanctuary county. One speaker likened the situation to what happened in Germany, saying, "I don't think that's hyperbole."

Rita Casaverde, executive director of the Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, echoed these sentiments. "Things have changed completely... This cannot be treated as the same as just another year," she said.

Board of Supervisors Decision

For the Board of Supervisors, the decision to accept the grant hinged on whether the community's concerns were founded. According to supervisors, the public was misinformed. "In this particular case, the thing then, for me, is whether or not this grant comes with strings attached," said Supervisor Jimmy Paulding. "This particular grant does not come with those strings attached."

Paulding highlighted the need to be fiscally responsible, especially with recent county budget cuts of around $38 million. "If we didn't use this money, then we'd have to dip into some other funding source, and that wouldn't be responsible," he said.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson acknowledged the public's outrage at ICE actions but emphasized that the grant does not tie the county to ICE. "I don't think that rejecting $300,000 of these monies is going to send nearly as strong a message as you have today," he told the crowd.

He noted that a portion of the funds will support public health and election security as SLO County prepares for the 2026 elections.

"I do not believe that accepting this money, that I am losing the trust of the community that I was elected to represent," said Supervisor John Peschong.