SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) announced he has introduced Assembly Bill 1708 to repeal the Sanctuary State law in California that took away the ability of local law enforcement to notify federal authorities about the release of an undocumented immigrant from jail.
“A few weeks ago our community experienced an unspeakable tragedy that could have been avoided if not for harmful policies passed by the California Legislature,” said Assemblyman Kiley. “My prayers are with the family of the victims, this should never have been allowed to happen. We must repeal the Sanctuary State law immediately to prevent avoidable tragedies like this in the future.”
In 2017, the Legislature passed and Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 54 (De León). This bill prohibited, with limited exceptions, local law enforcement from sharing information regarding the release of undocumented immigrants from jail. In opposition to the bill, the California State Sheriff’s Association wrote:
“Our overarching concern remains that limiting local law enforcement’s ability to communicate and cooperate with federal law enforcement officers endangers public safety…SB 54 would preclude staff in our jails from notifying ICE, at their request, of the pending release of certain wanted, undocumented criminals – including, but not limited to, repeat drunk drivers, misdemeanor hit and run drivers, those who assault peace officers, serial thieves, animal abusers, chronic abusers of dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin, and known criminal gang members arrested for most misdemeanor crimes.”
On February 28, 2022, a man who was in the country illegally shot and killed his three daughters and their chaperone at a Sacramento church. Just days before, the gunman had been arrested on charges of resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, and driving under the influence. The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) asked to be notified about his release from jail, but this never occurred due to prohibitions under California’s Sanctuary State law.
Assemblyman Kevin Kiley represents the 6th Assembly District, which includes the Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado County communities of Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Loomis, Orangevale, Penryn, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sheridan.
