Mayor argues California sanctuary rules cost lives after Martinez murder
A Martinez homeowner was killed after a suspect released under California’s sanctuary law was not turned over to ICE, prompting the El Cajon mayor to sue the state.
On August 6, Todd Stewart was fatally stabbed in his Martinez garage by Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, a Venezuelan national with an outstanding ICE detainer. Although the suspect faced three burglary felonies and had violated home-detention conditions, a Contra Costa County judge released him on his own recognizance the day before the killing, citing California’s sanctuary statutes that limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.
He announced a lawsuit, backed by the America First Policy Institute, challenging Senate Bill 54 and other state restrictions on sharing detainee information with ICE. Governor Gavin Newsom responded by saying state law does not stop ICE from enforcing immigration rules, a point Wells disputes. The mayor also highlighted recent moves by San Diego County officials to further restrict ICE’s use of local facilities, underscoring a broader conflict between state sanctuary policies and local public-safety priorities.
Why it matters
The case links state immigration policy to a fatal crime, raising questions about public safety and local-federal cooperation.
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