Gallagher Fights Back Against California’s ‘Sanctuary State’ Bill
AGENDA 21 RADIO
BY PAUL PRESTON
Assemblyman James Gallagher (R District 3) blasted SB 54 on the floor of the Assembly just before the bill was passed. Assembly Bill 54 is the “Sanctuary State” which gives ‘special protections’ to illegal immigrants.
In a move apparently meant to counter the Trump administration’s tough approach to immigration enforcement, the California legislature approved a so-called “sanctuary state” bill Saturday that would establish new protections for people living in the country illegally.
The California Values Act would forbid state and local law enforcement agencies from providing information to or acting as the deputies for federal immigration authorities. The bill also prohibits police and sheriff officers from inquiring about a person’s immigration status.
Republicans in the California Legislature remained opposed to the measure on Friday, saying it would tie the hands of law enforcement and compromise public safety.
“A lot of people talk about building a wall. This bill builds a wall between the federal government and our local partners and makes our communities less safe,” said James Gallagher, a Republican assemblyman.
The California Values Act would not necessarily make California the country’s first “sanctuary state.” Oregon passed a similar, though less protective, measure 30 years ago.
Despite strong opposition from myself and others, the Sanctuary State bill (SB 54) passed out of the State Assembly and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.
Some of the comments from Assemblyman Gallagher’s facebook indicate strong support for Gallagher while condemnation for Gov. Brown, Seanate pro tem Kevin De Leon.
Topo Padilla I have known Assm. Gallagher prior to him being elected to represent our communities. He has not changed one bit, he is a smart, caring and most of all a committed person to doing the right thing. IT IS SAD THAT THE MEMBERS HE WAS SPEAKING TO WONT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID. Thank you my friend for standing up for your community and our stat and country.
Erik Blaine Wilson Please don’t lose your passion or will to fight Assemblyman James Gallagher. You certainly speak for me and many, many people I know in having the best interest of our communities at heart as you should . Fight on!
Wendy Smith We need to appeal to USAG Jeff Sessions to prosecute Brown and every other legislator that voted in favor of this unconstitutional bill. Brown also needs to be prosecuted for making a deal with China on climate change. Only the federal government has the power to negotiate and enter into deals/contracts with foreign countries. I think California lawmakers need an education on the Constitution and I know just the person to do it; Krisannehall.com.
Kim Michele I am overwhelmed with the lack of common sense from Governor Brown and those supporting him. I feel helpless, and I know I’m not alone. James, I really appreciate your strong fight to represent SO MANY voices that seem to go unheard. If I could leave the state, I would. Just give up and leave.
Sherri Wickersham Tucker Our Governor not what i call him but anyway has lost his flipping mind. Since when do we defy our law enforcement who are there to protect each and everyone of us and turn around and diminish they’re power to enforce and uphold the law when it comes to justifiably convicting criminals. We are taking away the power that we relinquish and uphold Law enforcement too and hand it over to the criminals to keep on doing what they are doing. And i cant believe the legislature has passed it letting it proceed to the Governor..
California lawmakers on Saturday passed a “sanctuary state” bill to protect immigrants without legal residency in the U.S., part of a broader push by Democrats to counter expanded deportation orders under the Trump administration.
The legislation by Sen. Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles), the most far-reaching of its kind in the country, would limit state and local law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities, and prevent officers from questioning and holding people on immigration violations.
After passionate debate in both houses of the Legislature, staunch opposition from Republican sheriffs and threats from Trump administration officials against sanctuary cities, Senate Bill 54 was approved Saturday with a 27-11 vote along party lines. But the bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown drastically scaled back the version first introduced, the result of tough negotiations between Brown and De León in the final weeks of the legislative session.
On the Senate floor minutes before 2 a.m. on Saturday, De León said the changes were reasonable, and reflected a powerful compromise between law enforcement officials and advocates.
“These amendments do not mean to erode the core mission of this measure, which is to protect hardworking families that have contributed greatly to our culture and the economy,” he said. “This is a measure that reflects the values of who we are as a great state.”
Officially dubbed the “California Values Act,” the legislation initially would have prohibited state and local law enforcement agencies from using any resources to hold, question or share information about people with federal immigration agents, unless they had violent or serious criminal convictions.
After talks with Brown, amendments to the bill made this week would allow federal immigration authorities to keep working with state corrections officials and to continue entering county jails to question immigrants. The legislation would also permit police and sheriffs to share information and transfer people to immigration authorities if they have been convicted of one or more crimes from a list of 800 outlined in a previous law, the California Trust Act.
Some immigrant rights advocates who were previously disappointed with the list of offenses under the Trust Act, were dismayed to see the same exceptions applied in the so-called sanctuary state bill. The list includes many violent and serious crimes, as well as some nonviolent charges and “wobblers,” offenses that can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor, which advocates said has the potential to ensnare people who do not pose a danger to the public.
But immigrant rights groups did not withdraw their support for Senate Bill 54 and also won some concessions. Under the additions to the bill, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would have to develop new standards to protect people held on immigration violations, and to allow immigrant inmates to receive credits toward their sentences serviced if they undergo rehabilitation and educational programs while incarcerated.
The state attorney general’s office would have to develop recommendations that limit immigration agents’ access to personal information. The attorney general also has broad authority under the state constitution to ensure police and sheriffs agencies follow SB 54’s provisions should it be signed into law.
The compromise helped draw support for the bill from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), and moved the California Police Chiefs Assn. from opposed to neutral. The California Sheriffs Assn. remains opposed.
In their respective chambers on Friday, at least 20 members of the Assembly and six members of the Senate took the floor for debate on the bill, voicing complex stances on illegal immigration, federalism and the diversity of families in California.
Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine), a first-generation immigrant from South Korea, argued that he came to the U.S. legally and said the bill created “chaos” for a country built on law and order.
Others pointed to the opposition from sheriffs organizations, saying SB 54 tied officers’ hands, allowing serial thieves, chronic drug abusers and gang members to slip through the cracks. Supporters countered the Trump administration was trying to paint all immigrants in the country illegally as criminals.
They pointed to provisions in the bill that would make hospitals, schools and courthouses safe zones for immigrants from federal immigration authorities at a time of fear for some communities.
“We are ironically ending this session the way we started, talking about protecting the most vulnerable among us,” Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) said.
De León introduced SB 54 on what was an unusually acrimonious first day of the 2017 legislative session, as lawmakers in both chambers were locked in bitter debate over the still newly elected President Trump.
It was at the center of a legislative package filed by Democrats in an attempt to protect more than 2.3 million people living in the state illegally. Other legislative proposals and budget deals have expanded workplace protections against raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and increased legal defense services for immigrants facing deportation and financial aid for students without legal residency.
Senate Bill 54 received national attention as the U.S. Dept. of Justice pledged to slash government grants for law enforcement from any so-called sanctuary cities, which limit the collaboration between local and federal authorities on immigration enforcement.
At the request of the California Senate, former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder reviewed the bill and said it passed constitutional muster, adding that the states “have the power over the health and safety of their residents and allocation of state resources.”
Still, debate raged on and divided even law enforcement officials and associations. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Charlie Beck voiced his support, while L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell was a vocal opponent.
On Friday, lawmakers said some children without legal status were too afraid to go to school, while police statistics showed a drop in reports of sexual assault and domestic violence as immigrant victims refused to come forward.
Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) said the era was reminiscent of the 1980s, when her father dreaded ICE raids.
“We are not living in a hypothetical fear,” she said. “That fear is a reality.
