County supervisors, law enforcement officials trade accusations over immigration hold policy

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Source: San Jose Mercury News

Santa Clara County Executive Jeff Smith is accusing District Attorney Jeff Rosen and Sheriff Laurie Smith of "grandstanding'' and using "scare tactics'' for blasting county supervisors for a new policy that will release immigrants with a serious criminal history onto the streets.

What's more, the county executive said, if Rosen and Laurie Smith don't like the decision, they're welcome to sue the county.

"If they really believe the community will be unsafe, then they should exercise their power to prevent it from happening and file suit,'' Smith said. "We will have a very vigorous debate in court."

The county executive -- and the three supervisors who voted in favor of the new policy -- said they were blindsided by the pair's comments in a Mercury News story Monday that highlighted serious concerns the two have with the new guideline, which takes effect immediately.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19194083