Humboldt County's Sanctuary Status causes struggles for the Sheriff's Office

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — It's been months since Measure K passed and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office says because they can't communicate with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) it is creating struggles with how they protect the public.

"It is crazy, I mean they're preventing us from working with a federal partner," said Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal. "We conducted an arrest Thursday, the guy had almost 3.5 grams of heroin, he had $95,000 and this is again, continuing over and over again."

It was Thursday when HCSO said Drug Agents Special Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a residence located in the 7200 block of David Avenue, Eureka. HSCO says agents identified 54-year-old Daniel Albert Anaya from Sinoloa, Mexico as a suspected heroin dealer during a multi-week investigation.

"This is someone that's been smuggling heroin into our county," said Honsal. "Heroin is ruining our nation and so i can't even call ice and say can you deal with this guy. He's from Mexico and he's smuggling heroin here."

However, not all people who are in this country are illegal heroin smugglers like Anaya. Proponents of Measure K have told North Coast News in past interviews that there will be risks but, that everyone should be allowed to have sanctuary.