<\/p>\n

California immigration law has come into focus recently following a controversial decision by lawmakers to introduce what is now referred to as a “sanctuary state” or state protection for undocumented immigrants. The law is meant to shield immigrants from a process that could inevitably lead to deportation and it may cause complications between state and federal law agencies when handling cases of immigration.<\/p>\n

A Closer Look at California’s Immigration Law<\/h2>\n

Law enforcement agencies in California have certain limitations when handling immigrants. The law currently prohibits the following:<\/em><\/h3>\n

a. Issuing a hold request to detain an individual without a warrant or felony;
\nb. Holding an undocumented immigrant in a federal prison – this is only allowed in cases where the same individual has been convicted of a crime that falls under the California Crimes Act.
\nc. Requesting information about an individual’s legal status or sharing this information with other authorities – this is only allowed when running a multi-agency operation.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that a parallel federal program exists to gather information (including fingerprints) on any person arrested and this information is used in a subsequent database search that also checks the person’s immigration status.<\/p>\n

What New Changes Does the New “Sanctuary State” Law Bring?<\/h2>\n

The new law introduces additional processes for state and federal authorities when handling immigration cases. On one hand, it creates a barrier and slows down inter-agency cooperation; but it also establishes a guideline for cases that require multi-agency cooperation.<\/p>\n

It’s important to note that not all immigrants are protected by this new law. Individuals who’ve been convicted of certain crimes will not be safe from possible deportation if their cases are on the spot. People who have been convicted of offenses such as violent crimes have little chance to fight deportation if such a process were initiated against them.<\/p>\n

What Does This Mean for Immigrants Living in California?<\/h2>\n

In the meantime, federal agents can still conduct raids and arrest suspected immigrants, and federal agencies are still free to communicate with state agencies about individuals who are of interest or arrestees who are serving prison sentences while awaiting deportation. Legal immigrants have been given what is considered the most widespread state protections in the country.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, immigration law is covered by the federal jurisdiction; however, state laws do offer protections for immigrants living in California. This is why the state is considered a sanctuary for immigrants, even though this goes against federal policies. The Trump administration has already filed a lawsuit against the state challenging this new legislation as it contradicts the federal government’s plan to tighten up on existing immigration laws.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: cgstock\/shutterstock.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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