Shasta board reinforces non-sanctuary status amidst small anti-ICE protest
After Shasta County was named in a Department of Homeland Security list of jurisdictions across the nation that were allegedly out of compliance with immigration laws, the board voted yesterday to approve a letter to DHS reiterating that Shasta is not a sanctuary county. A small group of anti-ICE protesters staged outside during the meeting.
During this week’s Shasta County Board meeting, Supervisor Chris Kelstrom recalled a recent “surprising” conversation with the local leader of a group known as the Cottonwood Militia, Woody Clendenen, who the supervisor described as a good friend.
Kelstrom said it was through a conversation with Clendenen at his barber shop on May 30 that he first found out Shasta County had been listed as a sanctuary jurisdiction on a United States government list released late last month.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the document in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. It included almost all of California’s counties, and stated they were out of compliance with federal immigration law. The list has since been removed from the DHS website and has not been republished.
Kelstrom said at the board meeting this week that Clendenen learned the news from a New York Times reporter when she called him for comment. The information surprised Kelstrom since Shasta has taken an adamant non-sanctuary county stance since 2018.
It’s a largely symbolic stance, given that the sheriff is required to follow California state law which prohibits local law enforcement from coordinating directly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under most circumstances.
Kelstrom recounted the story as a lead-in to a vote on a brief letter to DHS that was approved unanimously by the board yesterday. Addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the letter declares that “although the State of California declared itself a sanctuary state in 2017, Shasta County is not and has never been a sanctuary jurisdiction.”
Chiming in during a pre-vote discussion, Board Chair Kevin Crye said, “When you hear something like this, especially when we are listed on a list such as this that should not be on there, we want to take immediate action to get us off of that.”
He added that he wanted to send DHS the letter in case the list gets republished and Shasta County remains listed.
As the board met, a small group of protesters with signs denouncing the Trump Administration and ICE stood outside the administrative building to advocate against the board’s decision. Most of them were dressed all in black with their faces covered. In a previous interview with Shasta Scout some of the same protesters have said they dress this way for safety and solidarity denying that they identify as “antifa”.
One of those protesters, who gave their name as “Eris,” also spoke during public comment, telling the board that they disagree with the statement that Shasta is not a sanctuary city because, they indicated, a law known as the California Values Act extends California’s sanctuary status to the entire state.
During Kelstrom’s discussion of the letter, Eris repeatedly yelled from the back of the chambers before leaving voluntarily after Crye issued them two warnings. They were the only protester among about 10 present who agreed to speak with reporters.
“We vehemently reject the fascist government that is attempting to take over our country and our state,” Eris said in an interview after the meeting as they continued their protest outside. “This board is a local government that mirrors what’s happening nationally.”
Two weeks ago, Eris was removed from a board meeting in what appeared to be a violation of the Brown Act and First Amendment law during a public comment denouncing the hiring of Chriss Street as a health care consultant for the county.
The particular statement that appeared to prompt Eris’ removal was a mention of the unfolding famine in Gaza. Before being ejected from the chambers, Eris also noted ties between Supervisor Kelstrom and the Cottonwood Militia. That comment prompted Kelstrom to respond publicly that the “militia” is a “great organization” and he “stands behind every one of those guys and gals.”
Since being told to leave that meeting, Eris has been harassed online, including by people stating they had pictures of Eris’ license plate and were sharing it.
The local anti-ICE demonstration and the board’s sanctuary city conversation played out against a backdrop of ongoing large-scale protests in Los Angeles that erupted late last week following federal immigration raids. Over the last few days the National Guard was deployed without the permission of California’s governor — the first time such an action has occurred in 60 years.
Their deployment followed a June 8 presidential memorandum invoking Title 10 of the federal code, a rarely-used law which enables the president to call upon authorized state militias, such as the California National Guard, to respond to a rebellion against the U.S. government or foreign invasion.
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the president’s move to federalize the California National Guard illegal, and announced the state’s plan to sue the federal government for undermining the governor’s authority. In the official complaint, Bonta claims the protests in LA have been neither an invasion nor rebellion, that protestors were mostly non-violent, and that “local law enforcement is more than capable of responding to the situation in Los Angeles.”
Unlike the National Guard, the Cottonwood Militia is a private citizen group and not authorized to act as law enforcement under state or federal law.
Madison Holcomb is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois Ubana-Champaign. She’s reporting for Shasta Scout as a 2025 summer intern with support from the Nonprofit Newsroom Internship Program created by The Scripps Howard Fund and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
Nevin Kallepalli contributed to this story.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Here’s the problem, Happy. Shasta Co. BOS has NO jurisdiction over the State of California. Yes, Happy, I know you are sad that we aren’t, and never will be, the State of Jefferson, or New California. So, SB 54, just like SB 969, is the law of the land. But don’t be too sad. 95% of everyone is entirely in favor of deporting undocumented people who have committed crimes. And it might make you K. Nome and tRump sad, but undocumented immigrants have legal rights under the U.S. Constitution.
These rights, including due process and equal protection under the law, apply to everyone in the U.S., regardless of their immigration status. This means undocumented immigrants cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without fair legal proceedings. Additionally, as a far-right extremist, you should be concerned when the Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Posse Comitatus Act are violated. These acts and laws are what Trump (a 34-count convicted felon is violating. And Remember, according to judge in Lewis A Kaplan, the claim by E Jen Carroll that Trump raped her was “substantially true.” Maybe we should deport criminial-ajudicated rapist Trump?
So there you are, Happy, a little civics lesson for the day.
Mr. Gardinier.
Your math is fuzzy. It’s 95% of USA citizens that do not want illegal aliens crossing the border without a visa.
Once you cross the border without a visa, You are not entitled to USA courts due process.That’s the law.
Illegal aliens without a visa are entitled for homeland, security, ice, border patrol to escort them out of the country.Duhh!
Happy Citizen: are you familiar with the asylum process? https://www.rescue.org/article/it-legal-cross-us-border-seek-asylum
Annelise,
You have to apply for asylum just like you do for a visa.
You can’t just sneak across the border.
It becomes chaos if laws are not followed.
Happy Citizen: https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-asylum-lawsuit-courts-d325740dd73f425309c66f89e670fd8f
95%?
Please provide sources and links otherwise you are full of it.
free Palestine. don’t listen to the locals, grew up in cottonwood my whole life and it’s full of racists. Human lives matter, regardless of skin color or if they’re “legal”. I count myself lucky I was born America, and fuck anyone who thinks less of anyone for being born on different soil with no choice. I’d love to see some conservative parents separated from their kids and see how they react. FUCK ICE
Shasta County voters never voted for sanctuary status of illegal aliens.
In fact…..
California voters never voted for sanctuary status of illegal aliens.
Duhh !
In fact…..
USA Voters never voted for sanctuary status of illegal aliens.
Duhh ! again
Go ICE!
Maybe we could get the gravy seals legal- make them an authorized militia- and send them down to LA
Thank God for our sane county supervisors!!!! So proud of our extreme conservative county and county representatives!!
Why do all ANTIFA look overweight and out of shape? Maybe a lack of exercise is affecting their judgement.
Rayray: we call this kind of a response a red herring whether its used about ICE or anti-ICE protesters.
Annelise,
I apologize for the overweight comment. I should have known that can be triggering for those dealing with weight issues.
The last thing these protesters believe in is God! They are pagan
Does anybody have the local ice telephone number? Do we have an office here in Shasta County?
Several years ago I was informed that the militia possessed illegal automatic machine guns and explosives
Chris: I think it’s important to be really clear with everyone that that’s an unconfirmed rumor.
It was told to me by the assistant executive of the Missing in America project that buried unclaimed deceased veterans all over the US.
And im not the only one who knows… As Director of Redding Loaves and Fishes, we rolled our unused food to their office that was next store at the time for their food give away to vets…
By the way, Robert Paoletti, the Redding police chief that was shamefully fired is now the general of the California National Guard leading the charge against the civil and constitutional rights of folks protesting in LA.
Your missing a great story…
illegals have no constitutional U. S. citizen rights. They are criminals from the start, having invaded the U. S. It is a crime.
The 5th and 14th Amendment of the Constitution disagree.
Ah yes, what a great example from the Bible of “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Also, have you ever heard the parable of the Good Samaritan?
Honestly, have you heard it? You should check it out.
Incorrect, the Constitution applies to anyone in the US. Yes it is a crime, a civil crime on the same level as speeding. Next?
It is not even an unconfirmed rumor! It is all out lie! Trust me, the militia does not need automatic weapons.
You can always count on Annelise to jump to the right’s defense whenever she can. Remember kids, she’s *unbiased*, honest.
And that turned out to be bullshit!
…yes, because that’s what the Bible teaches good MAGA Christians to do — deny safety and sanctuary to their neighbors. For I was hungry and you refused me sustenance, I was thirsty and you refused to give me water, I was a stranger and you turned me in, I was sick and you sent me to a country where no medical treatment was available, I was in prison and you said good-bye and good riddance.
Nor-cal Christian’s for ya. gotta love “those less than us” (until they’re in our community, then get rid of em, can’t have that inconvenience)