Officials blast ICE arrest transparency - Santa Barbara News-Press

Everybody’s talking about it.

Our investigation into ICE arrests at jails in Santa Barbara County sparked our top story in today’s newsletter. Three Santa Barbara County Supervisors have now demanded more transparency from Sheriff Bill Brown.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps told the News-Press after Thursday’s story broke: “I’m alarmed by the findings and requested more information from the Sheriff’s Office.”

In case you missed it, the News-Press report last week revealed that while the Sheriff’s Office reported 12 official transfers of inmates to immigration agents in 2025, federal data shows ICE agents arrested eight times that many people at locations they tagged as Santa Barbara county jails.

News-Press reporter Lillian Perlmutter broke the story and continues to stay on it with today’s edition. Check out our Instagram to see Lillian explain the story in her own words.

Joshua Molina

News-Press Editor

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Local voices

Second District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps. (Photo by Joshua Molina/Santa Barbara News-Press)

‘I’m alarmed by the findings and requested more information from the Sheriff’s Office. When so many are living with fear and uncertainty, the public deserves clear, comprehensive, and transparent information.’
— Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps