photo credit: AP
A vehicle drives by a sign about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis.

Raids and arrests by federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, including the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month, are drawing national attention.

In Sonoma County, they are also shifting political sentiment around the county’s long-standing support for limited collaboration with the agency.

Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey said in a statement this week that he no longer supports the county’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He said that while ICE once played a role in protecting communities, he now sees the agency as a danger.

Coursey’s reversal breaks what had been a unanimous position on the Board of Supervisors against adopting a sanctuary, or noncollaboration, ordinance.

Despite repeated refusals from county leaders, local immigration advocates continue to protest and call on the board to pressure the Sheriff’s Office to end all cooperation with ICE.

Board Chair Rebecca Hermosillo said she shares Coursey’s concerns about what she called the “lawless terror” caused by ICE, but she is not changing her stance.

“Our duty is to protect the health and safety of all constituents,” Hermosillo said. “Declaring a sanctuary ordinance would only further endanger the very people we want to protect.”

Hermosillo said that includes residents who want more cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. She said she regularly receives emails and calls from people urging the county to take a harder line in supporting ICE efforts.

Last fall, the new Department of Homeland Security officer assigned to Sonoma County met with Sheriff Eddie Engram. Engram said he was told the county is not being targeted, at least for now.

Hermosillo said she does not doubt ICE will eventually come, but believes passing a noncollaboration ordinance would accelerate that possibility.

“We don’t need to expedite it by making a sanctuary declaration,” Hermosillo said. “We don’t need to amplify it so they come out in full force.”

The sheriff’s office and the board have not signaled any change in policy. But immigrant advocacy groups say Coursey’s shift is a win, and they hope it marks the beginning of a broader move to end all ICE collaboration in Sonoma County.