California will continue to have immigration raids seen across Los Angeles and recently in Sacramento, as state and federal leaders clash over California’s sanctuary state law. Both sides signaled to KCRA 3 on Friday a truce or any kind of negotiation is unlikely at this point. The law, commonly referred to as SB 54, limits local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with immigration officials when an undocumented immigrant is accused of a crime. The Trump administration has said the state’s law plays a major role in its decision to carry out immigration raids in parking lots, businesses, and homes. “A lot of it can be attributed to the sanctuary state law,” said Bill Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in an interview with KCRA 3 on Friday. “They’re not allowed to report illegal immigrants to us when they arrest them, when they take them to jail, when they encounter them. So, we have to go do that on our own, out in the community.” Essayli said most of the people immigration authorities are trying to apprehend are in local custody. He acknowledged some might be engaged in lower-level crimes such as driving under the influence, fraud, and petty theft. “These are all the people we’re interested in apprehending and deporting because not only are they here unlawfully, they’re engaged in criminal activity,” Essayli said. | MORE | Border Patrol raids Home Depot parking lot in Sacramento; multiple people arrestedCalifornia’s Democratic led legislature rejected Republican efforts to change the sanctuary state law earlier this year to require local law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities when they arrest those accused of serious or violent crimes. It was the seventh failed attempt to change the sanctuary state law in California dating back to 2017, legislative records show. The issue has deeply divided Latino lawmakers this year. “People want us to have honest conversations about what is going on,” said State Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, while debating a resolution on the Senate floor earlier this month to condemn the immigration raids in Los Angeles. Valladares and other Republicans wanted Democrats that day to acknowledge the state’s law played a role in the raids. “It hurts me to see people frustrated and upset and in fear, but lying about why we’re here does nothing to fix it,” Valladares said. “Amazing to me to hear people say what’s happening- taking people off the streets, violating the constitution, violating due process, inflicting harm, terrorizing communities- that that is the Democrats’ fault. No, that’s the President’s fault,” State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, D-Berkeley, said in response. Democratic state lawmakers have argued the state’s sanctuary status gives local law enforcement agencies some discretion when it comes to those accused of serious and violent felonies. They have also noted the state’s prison system does cooperate with the federal government once an offender has been convicted of a crime. | PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Department of Homeland Security lists sanctuary jurisdictions across the U.S., Including many in Northern CaliforniaUnder Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has transferred more than 10,000 inmates into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. The governor has touted that number and distanced himself from the state’s sanctuary status. In a recent interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, he noted the law was something he “inherited.” “I support the broader principle,” the governor told Ryan. “That said, I’m happy to be an advocate for eliminating sanctuary policy, but the reason it exists is because of the abject failure of the federal government.” Police groups worry the strong political differences between the Trump administration and California Democrats will undermine their core mission of protecting people in the state. “Public safety should be a bipartisan priority, yet the current pressure from federal and state forces risks dragging law enforcement into political crossfire,” said Brian Marvel, the president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California. “This serves no one. We urge federal and state leaders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize community safety over political posturing, allowing officers to focus on protecting the public without distraction.”KCRA 3 asked Newsom’s office on Friday if there was any chance of a truce or negotiation between his leadership team and the Trump administration on immigration. “The Governor has mentioned time and again his willingness to work with the federal government, but their own actions do not display the same civility or reason,” a spokesperson for his office said in response. “We don’t negotiate with states on federal law,” Essayli said when KCRA 3 asked the same. “The rule of law means something in the United States. No one is above the law including the governor and the state of California.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California will continue to have immigration raids seen across Los Angeles and recently in Sacramento, as state and federal leaders clash over California’s sanctuary state law.
Both sides signaled to KCRA 3 on Friday a truce or any kind of negotiation is unlikely at this point.
The law, commonly referred to as SB 54, limits local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with immigration officials when an undocumented immigrant is accused of a crime. The Trump administration has said the state’s law plays a major role in its decision to carry out immigration raids in parking lots, businesses, and homes.
“A lot of it can be attributed to the sanctuary state law,” said Bill Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in an interview with KCRA 3 on Friday. “They’re not allowed to report illegal immigrants to us when they arrest them, when they take them to jail, when they encounter them. So, we have to go do that on our own, out in the community.”
Essayli said most of the people immigration authorities are trying to apprehend are in local custody. He acknowledged some might be engaged in lower-level crimes such as driving under the influence, fraud, and petty theft.
“These are all the people we’re interested in apprehending and deporting because not only are they here unlawfully, they’re engaged in criminal activity,” Essayli said.
| MORE | Border Patrol raids Home Depot parking lot in Sacramento; multiple people arrested
California’s Democratic led legislature rejected Republican efforts to change the sanctuary state law earlier this year to require local law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities when they arrest those accused of serious or violent crimes.
It was the seventh failed attempt to change the sanctuary state law in California dating back to 2017, legislative records show. The issue has deeply divided Latino lawmakers this year.
“People want us to have honest conversations about what is going on,” said State Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, while debating a resolution on the Senate floor earlier this month to condemn the immigration raids in Los Angeles. Valladares and other Republicans wanted Democrats that day to acknowledge the state’s law played a role in the raids.
“It hurts me to see people frustrated and upset and in fear, but lying about why we’re here does nothing to fix it,” Valladares said.
“Amazing to me to hear people say what’s happening- taking people off the streets, violating the constitution, violating due process, inflicting harm, terrorizing communities- that that is the Democrats’ fault. No, that’s the President’s fault,” State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, D-Berkeley, said in response.
Democratic state lawmakers have argued the state’s sanctuary status gives local law enforcement agencies some discretion when it comes to those accused of serious and violent felonies. They have also noted the state’s prison system does cooperate with the federal government once an offender has been convicted of a crime.
| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Department of Homeland Security lists sanctuary jurisdictions across the U.S., Including many in Northern California
Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has transferred more than 10,000 inmates into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
The governor has touted that number and distanced himself from the state’s sanctuary status. In a recent interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, he noted the law was something he “inherited.”
“I support the broader principle,” the governor told Ryan. “That said, I’m happy to be an advocate for eliminating sanctuary policy, but the reason it exists is because of the abject failure of the federal government.”
Police groups worry the strong political differences between the Trump administration and California Democrats will undermine their core mission of protecting people in the state.
“Public safety should be a bipartisan priority, yet the current pressure from federal and state forces risks dragging law enforcement into political crossfire,” said Brian Marvel, the president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California. “This serves no one. We urge federal and state leaders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize community safety over political posturing, allowing officers to focus on protecting the public without distraction.”
KCRA 3 asked Newsom’s office on Friday if there was any chance of a truce or negotiation between his leadership team and the Trump administration on immigration.
“The Governor has mentioned time and again his willingness to work with the federal government, but their own actions do not display the same civility or reason,” a spokesperson for his office said in response.
“We don’t negotiate with states on federal law,” Essayli said when KCRA 3 asked the same. “The rule of law means something in the United States. No one is above the law including the governor and the state of California.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
