Despite a county policy designed to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, transfers from San Diego County jails to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) nearly tripled in 2025, reaching their highest level since the state first required the sheriff to report such data in 2018.The total number of transfers rose from 30 in 2024 to 83 in 2025, even as the total number of ICE requests actually fell from 1,236 to 1,082. Sheriff Kelly Martinez presented the data Tuesday at a San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting, attributing the surge to Operation Guardian Angel, a federal initiative launched in May 2025 that relies on federal judicial warrants to bypass California sanctuary state restrictions.Of the 83 transfers in 2025, at least 30 occurred without a judicial warrant, violating the county policy the Board of Supervisors passed in December 2024. An additional 105 people had their release dates reported to ICE by the Sheriff's Office.Martinez said she would continue cooperating with ICE, arguing that jail transfers are safer than community-level enforcement. Three of five county supervisors urged her to stop, with Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe questioning the financial cost. Community advocates described widespread fear in immigrant neighborhoods across East County, with residents reportedly afraid to go to work, take children to school, seek medical care, or call law enforcement. The standoff between the sheriff and supervisors shows no sign of resolution.