California is the latest state to embrace a "sanctuary state" label, following Washington and New York. On Monday, the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 54, a bill that would prohibit local police departments from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on matters related to immigration law enforcement. The bill has been dubbed the "California Values Act."
Now, the bill is headed for the General Assembly.
The state Senate passed the measure on a 27-12 vote Monday, sending it to the Assembly.
The bill was amended last week by de León, D-Los Angeles, and will now allow local and state agencies to let Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents know before convicted felons of serious or violent crimes are released from custody. It also makes it easier for local agencies to transfer criminals into ICE's custody.
The changes to the bill also allow California law enforcement agencies to work with ICE task forces if the main purpose of the team is not immigration enforcement.
"We will cooperate with our friends at the federal level with serious and violent felons. But we won't cooperate or lift a finger or spend a single cent when we're talking about separating children from their mothers, mothers from their children," de León said. "That's not who we are as a great state."
Proponents said the bill rebukes President Donald Trump for his immigration crackdown. Opponents said it endangers the public by shielding criminals from being deported.
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Silly me--I thought laws were things that had to be followed.
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