New San Francisco Sheriff Reverses Ban on Communicating with Immigration Agents

In one of her first acts in office, San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy plans to reverse her predecessor’s policy barring deputies at the city jail from communicating with federal immigration agents — a policy that came under fire last year after a man wanted for deportation was released from jail and then was accused of killing a woman on Pier 14.

Hennessy, who was sworn in Friday, is working with her staff and legal counsel to develop a new policy that would roll back the controversial March 13 memo issued by former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi banning all communication with immigration agents seeking to deport jailed suspects absent a warrant or court order, said Chief of Staff Eileen Hirst.

The move by Hennessy, who was highly critical of the memo throughout her campaign, further distances her from the turbulent tenure of her predecessor, but is likely to stir opposition from immigrant advocates, many of whom supported Mirkarimi’s directive, SFGate.com reports.