California Assembly at it Again – This Time to Preserve Aliens’ Sanctuary Status

In California’s latest attempt to dismantle federal immigration law, last month California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta introduced AB 2792. The TRUTH Act (Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds) quickly passed the Senate Public Safety Committee.

As is always the case with California illegal immigrant entitlement bills, much is made of so-called unjust deportations, breaking up of families, and painful lives being lived in the shadows. But immigration advocates produce little tangible evidence that any of those conditions actually exist or at least that they exist in significant numbers.

California Assembly determined to maintain sanctuary cities, harbor aliens.

No reasonable California resident can claim that illegal immigrants live in the shadows or that many unfair deportations occur. As John Sandweg, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the Los Angeles Times: “If you are a run-of-the-mill immigrant here illegally, your odds of getting deported are close to zero – it's just highly unlikely to happen.” The story, “High Deportation Statistics are misleading,” added that even on the rare occasions when ICE wants to deport an illegal immigrant who has lived unlawfully in the U.S. for a significant period, backlogs in the immigration courts make it virtually “impossible.”

As much as immigration advocates are reluctant to admit it, unlawful entry is a crime, the consequences of which may include deportation. But California has been and continues to be vigorous in its undermining of federal law. According to the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, states and localities may not adopt policies, formally or informally, that prohibit its employees from communicating with DHS regarding the immigration status of individuals.

AB 2792 runs counter to federal law, and helps sustain illegal sanctuary city policies. Despite the murders of Kate Steinle, Marilyn Pharis and dozens of other innocent Californians, the TRUTH Act would impose a number of procedural barriers to deporting criminal aliens, the most egregious of which is a requirement that three cumbersome public hearings must be held that involve local governments and law enforcement agencies. The participants must enter into memoranda before cooperation with ICE is authorized.

The California State Sheriffs’ Association and the California Police Chiefs Association oppose the TRUTH Act. Add your opposing voice to law enforcement’s. Go to the CAPS Action Alert page here and tell your state Senator to protect lives by voting against AB 2792.