The proposal to repeal California’s sanctuary state law failed in a state Public Safety Committee meeting on April 19.
Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) introduced Assembly Bill 1708 in an effort to remove the sanctuary state law Senate Bill (SB) 54.
SB 54 was passed in 2017 to make California a sanctuary state by preventing local law enforcement to contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the release of illegal immigrants from jail, in order to limit the federal agency’s ability to deport them after release.
Kiley said during the committee meeting that SB 54 of 2017 was sold to favor immigrants in the state and that the bill was also misleading in this regard, however, since it does not concern both legal and illegal immigrants who do not engage in criminal activities.
“When you look at what the bill actually did, it … doesn’t actually do anything for the vast majority of immigrants,” he said. “It does nothing certainly for the many legal immigrants who are such an important part of our state, and it doesn’t do anything either for undocumented immigrants, so long as they have not violated our criminal laws in addition to violating immigration law.”
Kiley mentioned that the California State Sheriffs’ Association—an opposer of SB 54—warned that the legislation would hinder the abilities of law enforcement and immigration authorities to maintain public safety.
“Unfortunately, those predictions have amply and tragically borne out,” he said while referencing the recent shooting that occurred on Feb. 28 when David Mora, an illegal immigrant, shot his three daughters and their chaperone in a church before taking his own life.
Mora was released from prison a week before the shooting after assaulting a police officer. However, the sanctuary law prevented local law enforcement officers from informing ICE about his release.
“The immigration authorities asked to be notified of his release, but because of this specific policy change that SB 54 put into place … they were not [notified], and then five days later [Mora] went on to commit this very heinous crime,” Kiley said.
A representative from Crime Victims United—a victims’ rights organization—was supposed to speak at the committee hearing to support Kiley’s bill but was unavailable last minute.
Meanwhile, the bill was met with opposition by a speaker with the Asian American Advancing Justice, an immigrant rights organization.
“This would require state governments to work with ICE, an agency with a long record of systemic abuse to fill immigration detention centers and carry out mass deportation,” Faith Lee said.
Lee further stated the bill would result in immigrants within detention centers serving lengthier sentences.
The bill failed in a 2–3 vote with Assemblymen Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) and Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) voting in support.
