SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - San Luis Obispo District Attorney Dan Dow sent out a press release and social media announcements yesterday in response to calls for “ICE-Free Zones” across the nation.

For example, in Los Angeles, county supervisor Lindsey Horvath is spearheading ordinances to restrict immigration enforcement agents from using property controlled by local agencies.

SLO county D.A. Dan Dow says an ICE-Free Zone is merely symbolic rhetoric and that state, county, and city law enforcement does not override federal law.

Dow emphasizes that immigration law is governed by the federal administration out of Washington D.C., and that state, county and local law enforcement agencies are subject to the authority of federal agencies.

He acknowledges a great deal of confusion people have about how U.S. immigration law works, since administrations for decades past have largely ignored the law, leaving illegal pathways into the country wide open.

The District Attorney does specify that the Constitution protects free speech, the airing of grievances, and peaceable assembly.

He says a peaceable assembly, however, can easily and quickly be considered crossing the line into violence if federal officers are being impeded in their duties.

Dow encourages everyone to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, and to give them the space to do their jobs.

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Below is a press release from the County of Santa Barbara regarding the retirement of County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –  Santa Barbara County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato announced today that she plans to retire in July 2026, concluding more than twelve years of service to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the residents of Santa Barbara County. She will remain fully engaged over the next six months to ensure continuity of operations, support leadership succession planning, and lead adoption of the County’s FY 2026–27 budget.

“Serving Santa Barbara County has been the honor of my professional career,” said Miyasato. “Together, we modernized County operations, strengthened our safety net and justice system, invested in critical infrastructure, and communicated transparently, even during times of crisis. As we prepare for this transition, our focus remains steady: delivering essential services, supporting our workforce, and upholding the trust of our residents.”

During her tenure, Miyasato led a decade of organizational modernization to improve transparency, efficiency, and service delivery across County departments. She championed the implementation of major enterprise systems, including the Workday financial and human resources platform, a new electronic budgeting system, and an online financial transparency tool launching this year. She spearheaded the establishment of the County’s standalone Information Technology Department and ensured implementation of electronic permitting and countywide geographic information system.

Miyasato placed renewed emphasis on transparency, public communication and community engagement, re-establishing a centralized communications function, expanding public information capacity, and introducing plain-language summaries of Board actions along with a monthly Countywide electronic newsletter. She also championed the expansion of homeless services and innovative approaches to homeless housing opportunities. Miyasato also prioritized critical improvements to the = County’s criminal justice system, advancing diversion strategies that safely reduced the jail population, particularly for individuals with mental illness. These efforts were strengthened through closer integration of justice system oversight with health and human services, especially behavioral health.

Throughout her tenure, Miyasato guided the County through unprecedented emergencies and recovery efforts, including the Thomas Fire, the January 9 Debris Flow, multiple wildfires and severe winter storms, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the County strengthened bilingual emergency communications, enhanced Emergency Operations Center readiness and secured hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal reimbursements to protect core services and support long-term community-based recovery.

Miyasato joined the County in 2013 following the Great Recession, as it faced rising pension costs, structural budget pressures, unstable reserves, and a reduced workforce operating under prolonged strain. Under her leadership, the County restored fiscal stability, fully funded its Strategic Reserve, earned the highest available bond rating (AAA) awarded to a public agency, implemented disciplined multi-year financial planning, and positioned itself to eliminate its pensi

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