Nearly a month has passed since the Trump administration began its aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in Southern California, sending federal troops on raids that have provoked large-scale demonstrations, ongoing legal action in federal court, and a rush of bills from indignant state lawmakers attempting to retaliate.
However, nothing appears to be able to stop the White House or compel a change in strategy, at least not yet.
According to onlookers, elected figures in Sacramento and Washington are putting up proposals that don’t seem to have any substance.
It’s getting harder to stop the Trump administration from sending masked and unidentified immigration agents to snatch people off the street, according to Ahilan Arulanantham, co-director of the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy and a former senior counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Los Angeles.
He claimed that it is clearly illegal for them to detain and question everyone before determining who is present illegally. Even though there are already excellent laws that state that this is illegal, they continue to do it.
State Senator Sasha Rene Prez (D-Alhambra) unveiled a measure Monday that would require all law enforcement, unless they are undercover, to wear a name tag or badge number and broaden the prohibitions against police impersonation.
According to a news release from René Prez’s office, even though ICE has publicly denounced impersonations, the agency’s use of face coverings and inconsistent, visible identification confuses the public and makes it hard for them to tell the difference between dangerous criminals and authorized law enforcement officers.
State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arregu (D-Berkeley) have introduced a second bill that aims to prohibit law enforcement from donning face coverings.
Similar legislation was announced Tuesday at the federal level by U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), but it has little chance of becoming law because both congressional houses are controlled by Republicans.
Although there is still opposition to the state laws, they stand a stronger chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
The largest statewide law enforcement union in the nation, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, stated that a ban on face coverings might unintentionally deny local police officers access to personal protective equipment, such as respirators and face shields, since they are already obliged to wear badges, nameplates, or badge numbers on their uniforms.
It is unacceptable for our state politicians to use local law enforcement as a pawn in a grandstanding against the federal government. Brian R. Marvel, president of PORAC, stated in a statement that it is unacceptable, misguided, and misplaced.
Marvel stated that he didn’t think California had the right to control federal agents’ clothing.
In contrast, Arulanantham stated that the state law may remain in effect as long as the mask ban was implemented impartially to all law enforcement, not only federal actors.
SB 54, the sanctuary policy that restricts cooperation between state and federal law enforcement on immigration enforcement, might be expanded upon by additional possible legislation in the state Legislature, according to Arulanantham. However, the courts are currently challenging even such safeguards.
On Monday, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, claiming that its sanctuary policy made it more difficult for the federal government to enforce immigration laws.
According to a statement from the city attorney for Los Angeles, “Our City remains committed to standing up for our constitutional rights and the rights of our residents.” We will uphold the laws and regulations that embody our enduring principles as an inclusive community for all citizens.
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The complaint, which was filed in a federal court in California’s Central District, charges sanctuary towns like Los Angeles with impeding efforts to handle the illegal immigration epidemic.
The state Legislature is also considering laws that would forbid healthcare providers from disclosing a patient’s immigration status without a court order and limit school administrators from permitting immigration authorities to enter nonpublic school areas.
Attempts by Democrats to pressure the White House to back off are not unique.
In a letter to Trump, a group of Republican state lawmakers said that frequent immigration sweeps were destroying the economy by displacing workers from vital businesses.
Unfortunately, the towns we represent and the companies that employ our constituents are suffering as a result of the recent ICE worksite raids on farms, construction sites, restaurants, and hotels, the letter stated.
Despite attempts by rioters and politicians to obstruct law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that its agents are occupied with apprehending criminal illegal aliens and that it will continue its activities.
“We will only double down and ramp up our enforcement actions against the worst of the worst criminals,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated in a news release on June 26 in response to legislators acting in bad faith who try to disparage and demonize our courageous law officers.
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Advice on what to do if a family member is being held by immigration enforcement is available from immigrant advocacy groups.
Although no significant cases have been brought, local government and ICE could be sued by civil rights organizations, local city and county governments, and even private residents on the grounds that they are violating citizens’ constitutional rights and hurting the local economy.
According to a motion signed by seven members of the City Council, the city of Los Angeles is preparing for a lawsuit and has already authorized legal action against ICE.
However, first setbacks in the state’s appeal to Trump’s use of federal troops are not encouraging for further legal action. A lower court ruling that would have restricted Trump’s power was immediately overturned by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the legal dispute over whether the military can be deployed for immigration enforcement is still pending.
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To prevent their constituents from being racially profiled or jailed without warrants, seven council members want the city attorney to take urgent legal action.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and other state Democratic officials said they are trying to move some items through the legislative process more quickly while the court battle is ongoing.
In a statement, Rivas spokesperson Nick Miller said, “The Speaker is deeply invested in protecting California’s immigrant workers and families in the face of reckless ICE raids and Trump’s abuses of power.”
Despite the challenges legislation may face in the near future, some analysts believe Republicans may need to shift their attention from Trump’s agenda to issues that directly impact their voters, according to seasoned Democratic political consultant Roy Behr.
Although it appears that the Republicans are more concerned with following Trump’s wishes, these votes at least make them reveal their true allegiances. Additionally, it’s possible that they will eventually feel pressured to change their beliefs as a result of these votes.
