California Assembly Bill AB1252

California 2017-2018 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/17
• Refer: 3/9/17
• Failed: 4/19/17

Caption

State law: immigration: local government: state grants.

Impact

If enacted, AB 1252 would significantly reform California’s approach to immigration enforcement by mandating the Attorney General designate sanctuary jurisdictions. These jurisdictions are defined as any city, county, or city and county that restricts the sharing of information about an individual's immigration status. By prohibiting these jurisdictions from accessing state grants, the bill intends to motivate compliance with federal immigration authority and thereby influence the decisions of local governments regarding their immigration policies.

Summary

Assembly Bill No. 1252, introduced by Assembly Member Travis Allen, seeks to repeal and replace existing provisions related to immigration at the state level. It presents the 'Promoting Cooperative Law Enforcement to Detain Criminal Aliens and to Eliminate Sanctuary Jurisdiction Act of 2017' which aims to restrict certain cities or counties designated as sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving state grant funding. Specifically, this bill focuses on raising cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities, thereby addressing concerns about non-compliance with immigration detainer requests issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Contention

The bill has sparked considerable debate as critics argue it undermines local control and public safety by potentially discouraging undocumented immigrants from reporting crimes or cooperating with law enforcement. Proponents, however, argue that it is necessary to ensure that state resources are not allocated to jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration laws. The legislation's provisions allowing residents to sue their local government over non-compliance with immigration requests may also lead to contentious legal battles and further intensify the ongoing national debate over immigration policy.