Santa Cruz County sheriffs say his office will no longer be taking part in Operation Stone Garden, along the US-Mexico border. This is a program that grants local law enforcement agencies in exchange for coordination between customs and border security.

Stone Garden funding is available to local, tribal and state law enforcement agencies operating along the border. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office began participating in the program several years ago. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department also joined the program, but withdrew a few years ago.

Sheriff David Hathaway says the funds will be spent on overtime payments for some deputies and deputies who take part in the work under the direction of the Border Patrol.

“So, if you receive the money, you are expected to follow federal orders that may not fit your community’s priorities,” he said.

Hathaway says he’s been thinking about getting out of the program for a long time. But changes under the new Trump administration — including directing prosecutors to investigate local jurisdictions of laws that violate mass expulsions — have solidified these plans.

Hathaway says that most residents of Nogales, Santa Cruz County’s largest city, are Latinos, with most having US citizenship, US residencies, or work and school visas. Still, many dominate the Trump administration’s plan to expel the U.S.

“Even if they’re documented, they may be afraid we’ll want to look into their status. That’s not our concern, and it’s not a function of local law enforcement,” he said.

Hathaway says taking instructions to deputies from federal authorities can force tasks that go against the local mandate and priorities of the sheriff’s office. He says the change will take effect soon. The Nogales Police Station is still part of the program.