In defiance of Trump, California moves closer to becoming a sanctuary state

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ACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —
Victor Alvarez came to the state Capitol on Tuesday to testify on behalf of Senate Bill 54, the so-called "sanctuary state" bill that its author, Senate President Kevin de Leon, calls the California Values Act.

Alvarez had to drop out of California State University, Long Beach last year when his father was deported to Mexico. He was initially stopped by campus police for a broken headlight and then transferred to immigration agents.

“If (SB 54) had been around when my dad was detained, he would have still been here,” Alvarez said. “It's a reality check for everyone who's undocumented.”
SB 54 would prohibit local police forces from helping federal authorities deport people who are in the U.S. illegally.

“(The) worst thing we want to do is in fact have police officers leave their beats, leave the communities that they are sworn to protect and serve to go on and assist ICE federal agents -- to set up a perimeter around an elementary school to wait for mothers to pick up their children,” De Leon testified on Tuesday.

De Leon’s bill would also make public schools, hospitals and courthouses safe havens for California residents, regardless of immigration status.
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SB 54 passed the Public Safety Committee on a strict party line vote, with five Democrats in favor and two Republicans opposed. It now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee for future consideration.

Senate committees on Tuesday also moved forward two other bills affecting immigrant rights. SB 6 would provide money for legal services for undocumented immigrants, while SB 31 aims to prohibit state agencies from sharing information with federal authorities about a person’s religion.