A so-called "sanctuary state" law took effect in California on Monday, preventing state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources, funds and personnel to investigate, detain, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes, KTLA-TV reported.
Senate Bill 54 was signed into law Gov. Jerry Brown in October and "prohibits the commandeering of local officials to do the work of immigration agents," the television station reported. The new law's critics, though, said that it limits cooperation between local agencies and federal authorities.
California's secretary of state Alex Padilla announced that opponents to the new law began collecting signatures in October to challenge the law in a referendum. Marco Gutierrez, the leader of the proposed ballot initiative, needs to collect 365,880 signatures of valid voters by Wednesday to get the measure in front of voters, a statement from Padilla's office said.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke forcefully against the law and California's efforts in September, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"The bill risks the safety of good law enforcement officers and the safety of the neighborhoods that need their protection the most," Sessions said, per the Times.
"This state of lawlessness allows gangs to smuggle guns, drugs and even humans across borders and around cities and communities. That makes a sanctuary city a trafficker, smuggler or gang member’s best friend," Sessions continued.
The Sacramento Bee reported that Brown won amendments to the bill before he signed, including giving federal immigration agents access to interview immigrants in jails and exempting the California Department of Corrections from the measure.
"These are uncertain times for undocumented citizens and their families, and this bill 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," Brown said in October, per the Bee.
The newspaper said that the California Police Chiefs Association was neutral on the bill while the state's sheriffs' organization stated that it was against the measure.
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