Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle announced Friday that he will no longer release inmate release date information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless the inmate has been charged with or convicted of a serious or violent crime.

Doyle said Friday that his change of heart grew out of his dissatisfaction with the way the Trump administration is handling immigration policy and his consultation with San Rafael’s Canal Alliance and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center of San Francisco.

“I like a lot of people think there needs to be immigration reform,” Doyle said, “but given the current climate in Washington I don’t think we’re going to see that happen.”

“Until Congress acts to address this, my office will no longer be a part of the chaos that is creating such fear and apprehension across the nation, as well as here in Marin,” Doyle said in a statement.

Doyle’s announcement comes six days before a forum at which he was expected to share data on the number and demographic characteristics of individuals for whom his department has provided ICE access. The forum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Board of Supervisors’ chamber.

Previously, the sheriff’s office would respond to written requests from ICE to supply release date information, regardless of the nature of the crime. Doyle had been criticized by immigrant rights groups and others for that policy.

In a May letter to the Marin Independent Journal’s opinion page, Marin County Public Defender Jose Varela wrote, “We should be leaders in addressing the onslaught of federal intervention into our immigrant communities. But instead policies are being implemented at the local jail level that align with the sentiments coming from Washington.”

Leading up to the Nov. 6 election, the policy came up during debates between Lori Frugoli and Anna Pletcher, the candidates competing to become Marin’s next district attorney. Pletcher criticized Frugoli for accepting Doyle’s endorsement given his cooperation with ICE.

The so-called Truth Act, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in September 2016, requires local governing bodies in which local law enforcement has provided ICE access to an individual to hold a community forum to receive and consider public comment.

Doyle said the sheriff’s office will, however, continue to post release information for all jail inmates on its website and will respond to telephone inquiries from ICE.

“We’re required by law to release public information,” Doyle said. “We could be subject to civil penalty if we didn’t so if they call us on the phone we’ll provide information to them.”

Doyle said posting release information on the website is a community service for the friends and loved ones of people in jail.

“We’re not the only jail that posts release dates,” he said. Orange, Contra Costa and Alameda counties began posting the information this year.

Response to Doyle’s announcement was positive.

Lucia Martel-Dow, director of immigration and social services at Canal Alliance, said, “This is a great start. We see this as the beginning. We’re very grateful for the transparency and the willingness of the sheriff to sit down and talk to organizations like Canal Alliance and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.”

Varela said, “I applaud Sheriff’s Doyle’s decision to no longer release dates for inmates. I think this is a step forward recognizing the anxiety that releasing those dates caused to our community. I thank the sheriff for having the insight to change course and do this.”

Pletcher said, “This is a step in the right direction for Marin and our immigrant community. I’m proud that my campaign helped elevate the issue and change the sheriff’s position.”

Doyle said he found it ironic that Pletcher criticized Frugoli for accepting his endorsement because he said she had asked him to endorse her prior to announcing her candidacy, and he turned her down.

Pletcher said, “I have nothing to say about that.”