In summary

In a party-line vote, the Senate voted 27-12 on Senate Bill 54, a law that would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from using public resources to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

California took one more step toward officially becoming a “sanctuary state” yesterday. In a party-line vote, the Senate voted 27-12 on Senate Bill 54, a law that would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from using public resources to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Yesterday’s vote further escalates the standoff between California and the Trump Administration over immigration policy. Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement included the state in its weekly “Declined Detainer Outcome Report,” a list of cities, counties, and states the administration deems to be sanctuary jurisdictions.

Nevertheless, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angles), the author of SB 54, used his statement on the floor of the Senate yesterday as an opportunity to goad the president.

“The President needs to read up,” he said from the Senate floor. “He is wrong about immigrants and wrong about what makes our communities safer.”

We want to hear from you

Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. Please contact CalMatters with any commentary questions: commentary@calmatters.org

Avatar photo

Ben ChristopherHousing Reporter

Ben covers housing policy and previously covered California politics and elections. Prior to these roles at CalMatters, he was a contributing writer for CalMatters reporting on the state's economy and...