California Senate Bill 54, which enacts important limits on cooperation by state and local officials with federal immigration authorities, was signed into law today by Gov. Jerry Brown. Please attribute the following statement to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
“By signing SB 54 today, Governor Brown took a significant step toward increasing public safety in the state of California. Despite what disinformation may come from Washington D.C., the fact is that ensuring positive relations and cooperation between law enforcement and the broader immigrant community is a critical element of crime prevention and deterrence, and the most important protection against serious and serial crime. By establishing uniform and limited statewide policies in the area of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, SB 54 also preserves resident mobility, which is a benefit to state economic growth and development. The commitment in SB 54 can and should be expanded in future years through careful review and study of the costs and benefits of all elements of the cooperation that remains permitted between local law enforcement and an increasingly uncontrolled federal immigration force.”