Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said he plans to veto a bill in California that would limit state prison officials’ cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Newsom said California’s “sanctuary” law is the right course of action to balance the state building trust with immigrant communities while giving the federal government the room to deport undocumented criminals in prison, according to a Politico report. His action comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Department of Justice was suing Illinois and New York for their sanctuary laws.
A Newsom spokesperson confirmed that he plans to reject Assembly Bill 15 if it passes. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year.
Assembly Bill 15, which was introduced by a Democrat, would expand the “sanctuary” law, SB 54, to include the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The current law allows the state prison system to work with ICE to take custody of people convicted of a felony who have finished their terms. According to state records, since Newsom took office in 2019, California’s correctional system has coordinated with ICE on transferring around 10,600 inmates into federal custody.
Newsom has stressed that California’s prison system should still limit its communication with federal immigration enforcement to make sure ICE agents only come into contact with undocumented immigrants when they enter prison and are approaching the end of their sentence.
“ICE will determine how it will proceed with its enforcement of federal law,” Newsom said.
Similar to Newsom, Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) said she supports the “apprehension of criminals” in the state.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The DOJ is suing New York over its “Green Light Law,” which prevents the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing information it gathers about noncitizens with federal law enforcement officials. A similar lawsuit was filed against Illinois for its Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, Welcoming City Act, and a local ordinance in the Chicago area that limits the Chicago Police Department’s interactions with ICE.
California’s sanctuary status survived legal challenges from the first Trump administration.