The bill faced stiff opposition from Republicans—the minority in the state—and local sheriffs, who also just happen to make millions of dollars renting out jails to be used as detention centers. Both groups made Trumpesque claims that the legislation would make communities less safe, despite the fact that research has shown the exact opposite.
“To my colleagues in the Assembly,” said Sen. de León, “no one wants dangerous or violent criminals roaming our streets. The California Values Act allows state and local law enforcement to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement before violent or dangerous criminals are released from incarceration and allows their transfer into federal custody for deportation.”
“But Californians will not squander their precious public safety dollars to separate mothers from their children, to detain DREAMERS, or to deport honest, hardworking people who are so critical to our economy.”
“This is power!” said United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. “The #CAValuesAct passes the Senate in California! Thank you to all the organizers and organizations in the state for your work.”
The State Senate also approved two other bills, one that would provide “$12 million to pay lawyers for immigrants facing deportation,” and another that would “bar state officials from sharing data if the federal government creates a Muslim registry.” The state has consistently been leading in the efforts opposing Trump’s racist, anti-immigrant agenda, a rebuke that advocates hope will spread to other states:
In late January, San Francisco became the first to sue the federal government over promises to starve sanctuary cities of federal funding, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a brief supporting that lawsuit following Sessions’ remarks. “Threatening to take away resources from sheriffs and police officers in order to promote misguided views on federal immigration policy is reckless and puts public safety at risk,” Becerra said in a statement.
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