California’s sanctuary state bill was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday in an effort to limit local authorities' cooperation with federal immigration officers.
The passing of Senate Bill 54, which takes effect in January, comes as conflict over immigration continues to rise between President Donald Trump and California officials, Politico noted.
The bill seeks to impose limitations on local officials from conducting inquiries into a person’s immigration status and from working with federal immigration agents.
In a rare signing message in support of SB 54, Brown said, "these are uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their families," per Politico.
He explained that the legislation "strikes a balance that will protect public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear every day."
According to the bill, immigrants are considered to be both valuable and essential members of the California community but a relationship of trust between these immigrants and local agencies was threatened when state officials were "entangled with federal immigration enforcement."
However, Brown noted that the bill would not prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security from doing their own work.
The enactment of SB 54 has been met with skepticism, with legal experts saying that federal officials could attempt to prevent the law from being implemented by challenging it in court, the Los Angeles Time reported.
"The president will be laying out his responsible immigration plan over the next week and I hope that California will push back on their governor’s, I think, irresponsible decision moving forward," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, according to the Times.
Meanwhile, a Department of Justice spokesman said the bill "codified a commitment to returning criminal aliens back onto our streets, which undermines public safety, national security and law enforcement," according to Reuters.
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