California is taking drastic measures against the immigration policy of the Trump administration. The state lawmakers want to make all of California a sanctuary state. Senate Bill 54 is a controversial legislation that would restrict the power of Law Enforcement Agencies like the school police and security department from cooperating with immigration officials according to a report by The Washington Post. This bill also forbids asking people about their immigration condition, which limits the power of the law enforcement agencies. The sanctuary cities have protected undocumented people for a long time, but Trump wants to finish with this policy.
California has a huge illegal population
The state has been a magnet for about 2.7 million undocumented people who take advantage of the sanctuary cities according to a report by Fox News. These communities in the US limit the cooperation of the local authorities with the immigration officials because the California Values Act protects the illegals. Illegals can't be arrested on civil immigration warrants, nor have to give explanations about their immigration status.
Origin and future of the bill
Kevin de León, the most powerful Hispanic politician in California, is a Democrat from Los Angeles who introduced the bill in 2016. The proposed law had no Republican support but it advanced through the state Senate and Assembly, and now it will be sent to Jerry Brown, the Governor of the state.
According to a report by The Washington Post, it's expected that Brown will approve this legislation because he is a Democrat too.
Death of the rule of law
If SB 54 is approved, the US President will lose authority, won't be able to command California law enforcement officers, and the undocumented will have plenty of freedom.
Some people like this but not all the Americans agree with the proposed bill. Department of Justice spokesman Devin O’Malley thinks this will be the end of the rule of law. He thinks that it is risky for Californians and a threat to the national security according to a report by The Washington Post.
Katie Steinle
There have been many arguments against the sanctuary cities since Katie Steinle was killed in 2015 by an illegal who had come to America multiple times. The man killed Katie in San Francisco when she was strolling with her father, and the illegal had a criminal record according to a report by Fox News.
