California judge approves laws to restrict cooperation with immigration officials

On Thursday, federal judge John A. Mendez ruled that he wouldn’t block California’s effort to restrict law enforcement cooperation with immigration officials. His decision directly counters the position from the Trump administration, which argues that California is blatantly attempting to halt the enforcement of immigration policies. Mendez stated that “refusing to help is not the same as impeding” and that “standing aside does not equate to standing in the way”.

However, that was not the entirety of his ruling. He also ruled in favor of a second Californian law, which allowed the state’s attorney general to visit federal immigration detention centers in support of the immigrant families. He did not support the entirety of the state’s proposals, as he ruled against a third proposed law that would have allowed for them to impose fines on employers who allow immigration agents into their workplace.

Also as part of his ruling, Mendez stated: “SB 54 [the proposed Senate Bill by California] does not add or subtract any rights or restrictions upon immigrants. Immigrants subject to removal remain subject to removal. SB 54, instead, directs the activities of state law enforcement, which Congress has not purported to regulate.”

The partial triumph of the legislation pushed by California shows the success of a direct attempt to counter the Trump administration’s policies and strong attempts to limit illegal immigration in the U.S. Some of the politicians that backed this new legislation have stated that the government’s harsh “zero tolerance” policy has also caused for discomfort and preoccupation all across their state, and they decided to not directly support its application.

Governor Jerry Brown also stated that “only Congress can chart the path forward by rising above mindless, partisan divisions and working together to solve this problem, not exacerbate it.” Many of the bill’s supporters and writers have stated that their intentions were not to interfere with immigration authorities, even when it comes to processes like deportation, and that they merely wanted to stand by their state’s general beliefs.

The Department of Justice was also quick to respond to Mendez’s ruling, which was taken after lengthy arguments made in court several weeks ago. A spokesman for the DOJ stated: “While we are disappointed that California’s other laws designed to protect criminal aliens were not yet halted, the Justice Department will continue to seek out and fight unjust policies that threaten public safety.”

One of the proposed laws, the one that focused on fines to some California employers, was seen as too much a legislation that would interfere with the work of immigration agents. Mendez stated in his final report: “These fines inflict a burden on those employers who acquiesce in a federal investigation but not on those who do not.” The authors of the bill, and specifically of that legislation, have not been troubled by the fact that the legislation was detained, and some of them even agreed with the judge. They also stated that some businesses may still be able to fine immigration officers before coming into their establishments and that it was ultimately up to every business owner how to proceed.

Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons