Council Member, Curren Price, Senate President Pro Tempore, Kevin de León and immigrant community.
A major step in the fight to protect undocumented immigrants living in the State of California was accomplished last month as Governor Jerry Brown recently made the bold move signing a bill that makes the state a sanctuary haven for its more than 2.3 million illegal immigrant residents.
Authored by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León D-Los Angeles, SB 54 would end the practices of law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE or federal immigration authorities except in cases of criminal convictions in certain crimes.
The law goes into effect in January 2018 and is seen by many as a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation orders that not only destabilized many hardworking immigrants but has also left may families living in terror. SB54 also provides protection from cruel treatment of detained immigrants and prohibits unconstitutional ICE detentions. In addition there can no longer be raids done in schools, health facilities or courthouses.
The implementation of this law is great news to not only immigrant rights activists but is also great news to may law enforcement agencies who have been at odds in many instances with the current status quo as they see mingling police and federal immigration activities as having a negative effect in communities and public safety. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck is particularly thrilled and supports the bill as crime victims and witnesses to crime can now come forward without fear of deportation.
