In the wake of immigration enforcement on federal lands, county officials issue a map and advisory.

As local protests continue expressing opposition to federal immigration enforcement and U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren call for the removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, the County of Monterey’s immigration ad hoc committee has released a list of federal-government-managed areas in the county. 

“It's important that people know that when they are on federal grounds, they have some different laws than there are in the state or in the county itself,” says Nick Pasculli, chief public information officer for the County of Monterey.  

Various areas across Monterey County are multi-jurisdictional, meaning different agencies may conduct traffic stops or conduct law enforcement investigations. People may be subject to different laws when on federal land. For example, possession of recreational or medicinal marijuana is illegal in national parks, post offices and federal buildings, although it is legal for adults 21 and older in California. People could also be subject to immigration enforcement. 

On federal lands, federal law enforcement officers have primary authority.

Since December, the Monterey County Solidarity Network has reported that at least  eight people have been detained or turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in South Monterey County, including one on Jolon Road on Jan. 16 and at least 15 more near Lake San Antonio on Dec.30 and 31 (eight were San Luis Obispo residents). 

The county statement, issued on Monday, Feb. 2 by the ad hoc committee urges the public to be aware of the jurisdiction and follow all laws. It suggests that before visiting, people should: "Check which agency manages the land; Review rules and regulations; Respect closures, fire restrictions, and safety notices; Consider avoiding these areas entirely."

County officials also shared an interactive map and released a list of areas in Monterey County that have federal jurisdiction. The partial list includes recreational lands, military installations and other government offices: 

• Fort Hunter Liggett in Jolon (west of King City) 

• Camp Roberts (at the southern edge of Monterey County and northern edge of San Luis Obispo County)

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, including:

• Fort Ord National Monument

• Former Fort Ord military lands retained by the federal government

• Naval Support Activities Monterey (NSAM), including:

• Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) (on base)

• La Mesa Village (Housing off of Aguajito Road in Monterey)

• Presidio of Monterey (POM) including:

• Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey

• Fort Ord Village (Housing off of General Jim Moore Boulevard in Seaside)

• POM Police and Fire Departments, Department of Public Works, Fort Ord Community Commissary, General Stilwell Community Center, Former Fort Order Hospital, and similar buildings (in the area of General Jim Moore Boulevard and Gigling Road in Seaside)

• Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic (in Marina)

• Coast Guard station (Monterey)

• Social Security Administration offices (in Salinas, Watsonville and Santa Cruz)

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) properties (in Monterey)

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center (in Salinas) 

• National Forest lands (Los Padres National Forest, including the Ventana Wilderness, between Big Sur and King City, down to the SLO County line)

• Pinnacles National Park

• Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge (western edge of Castroville area)

• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (the Monterey Bay)