State Senator Takes on Sanctuary Law

Late last year, anticipating a Trump administration immigration crackdown, San Diego County Supervisors enacted a new policy that sharply limits county cooperation with federal deportation efforts.

The law, controversial when it was adopted, now faces new opposition in Sacramento. Sen. Minority Leader Brian Jones recently proposed legislation that would outlaw what the county did.

Jones’ bill, SB 54, would require counties to adhere to California’s less strict sanctuary provisions, which gives local governments wider latitude to cooperate with federal authorities in cases involving immigrants convicted of serious crimes such as murder or rape.

SB 54 also would go one step further than current state law by requiring local governments to cooperate with federal authorities in such cases. The current policy gives local governments the option of cooperating but doesn’t require it.

Jones said San Diego County’s so-called “super-sanctuary” policy inspired his new legislation. 

“Their reckless ordinance prohibited law enforcement from cooperating with immigration officials on illegal immigrants convicted of any crime, including the worst felonies,” Jones said, making “it easier for convicted illegal immigrant felons to return to San Diego streets and continue their crime sprees, regardless of how many felony convictions they have.” 

Read "Sen. Brian Jones Takes on California's Sanctuary Law" for the full article.

By Deborah Sullivan Brennan | February 21, 2025 | Voice of San Diego

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