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The
signing of the bill by Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, enacts
on a state-wide level protections for illegal immigrants that
exist in several cities, including Chicago and New York.
Illinois approved a similar measure earlier this year.
The enhanced protections for illegal immigrants by California,
the nation's most populous state, sets the stage for a political
battle with President Donald Trump, who has made a crackdown on
illegal immigration one of his main priorities.
Senate Bill 54, which California lawmakers approved last month,
bars local governments from forcing undocumented immigrants to
spend extra time in jail so that immigration agents can pick
them up for deportation.
It also prohibits police from asking about the immigration
status of people during routine interactions. "These are
uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their
families, and this bill strikes a balance that will protect
public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those
families who are now living in fear every day," Brown said in a
statement.
The law will take effect in January.
California leads the nation in its population of illegal
immigrants, with more than 2.3 million people lacking legal
status, according to Pew Research Center.
The U.S. Department of Justice immediately criticized Brown's
action.
"The state of California has now codified a commitment to
returning criminal aliens back onto our streets, which
undermines public safety, national security and law
enforcement," Department of Justice spokesman Devin O'Malley
said in a statement.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions this year sought to cut off
sanctuary cities from certain federal grants, but judges have
blocked that effort.
The law will not affect major aspects of U.S. immigration
enforcement, Brown noted in his statement. It does not prohibit
sheriffs from allowing federal immigration authorities into
their jails and does not freeze deportation proceedings for
prison inmates, Brown said.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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