Social media video of who appeared to be plainclothes federal agents in the parking lot of the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station in Encinitas led to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office clarifying its role given state law.
The nearly two-minute video, shared on social media platforms such as Facebook on Friday, March 6, shows a videographer walking up the hill toward the parking lot of the Encinitas station and revealing three SUVs in the parking lot. At least two of the men around the vehicles had the lower parts of their faces obscured by black coverings, and one appeared to have a duty belt.
Although the SUVs were unmarked and appeared to have had civilian license plates, speculation circulated as the video went viral that the men were federal immigration agents.
What the footage shows
“Look at them, look at them, look at them. Look at them,” the videographer is heard saying as he approaches the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station driveway. “Why are you hiding?” he asks as he attempts to zero in on the license plates.
One of the men asks in response as he takes out his own phone to film: “Hey, you all got a job or what, bro?”
“This is my job,” the videographer replies, shortly after saying, “Come on, show your face, bro.”
Another of the men approaches and tells the videographer that he is taking a photo of him, to which he replies, “I was born here, bro.”
“It doesn’t matter,” the man replies.
Sheriff’s Office response
By 12:30 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement clarifying that it was not involved with the interaction that morning.
“Any federal agency participating in immigration-related operations in Encinitas have done so without prior knowledge or assistance from the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station,” the department stated. “The incident highlighted on social media is an example of just that. The North Coastal Sheriff’s Station does not know the circumstances regarding why federal agents were present in the station’s public parking lot.”
The department stated that it was committed to complying with state Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, a law enacted in 2018 that in part restricts state and local law enforcement from using resources for federal immigration enforcement.
“The Sheriff’s Office does not use agency facilities, resources or personnel to assist federal agencies with immigration enforcement,” the sheriff’s statement read.
The department encouraged community members to call its non-emergency line at 858-868-3200 for inquiries.
