SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A bill that would have blocked California state prisons from transferring inmates to federal immigration custody was failing as lawmakers prepared to adjourn Wednesday.Gov.
Gavin Newsom vetoed similar legislation in 2019, saying then that it could "negatively impact prison operations." It also faced stiff opposition from law enforcement organizations, with the California Police Chiefs Association calling it "a major threat to public safety."State law prohibits local police and sheriffs from cooperating with U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement for some crimes, but it doesn’t apply to the prison system.The state transferred more than 1,400 inmates to immigration authorities in 2020, according to the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, an advocacy group.Illinois, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., have already ended such transfers, as have at least eight California counties.The practice drew attention after inmate firefighters risked their lives but were turned over to ICE after their parole."Whether you are an American citizen or … a refugee, if you have served your time you have a right to be treated equally in the state of California," Democratic Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo argued in support of her bill in advance of the Senate’s consideration.
But she said the state’s current policy "has created a dual justice system" that allows for deportations.Her bill cleared the Assembly last year but stalled in the Senate on a 18-13 roll call, short of the 21 votes it needed to pass.