California sets rules for cooperating with feds on immigration

On Wednesday, the California Department of Justice issued new guidelines clarify how state and local law enforcement may cooperate with federal immigration officials.


This comes after California passed Senate Bill 54, which "effectively legalized non-cooperation between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration officials". In response to the bill, Trumps administration filed a lawsuit again challenging SB54.


The guidelines were outlined in a 10 document. State Sen. Kevin de Leon explains that the new guideless should offer “further evidence that SB54 is consistent with federal law.”


U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other members of the Trump administration criticize California's efforts to protect undocumented immigrants and their attitude towards federal immigration laws. Despite California efforts, there has been several immigration raids targeting businesses that employ undocumented immigrants.


Under the new guidelines, "police and sheriff’s departments are prohibited from inquiring about a person’s immigration status, but are permitted to share information regarding an immigrant’s legal status when they have information".


State and local authorities are allowed to assist federal immigration officials as long as they follow state law and it is being enforced. However, the California government still discourage cooperation between federal authorities and state/local enforcement.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/28/california-sets-rules-for-cooperating-with-feds-on-immigration.html

Sheriff Participates in ICE Raid

Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick A. Russo has agreed to work with federal immigration authorities. Rensselaer County is a former steel town built by Irish and Italian immigrants. Sheriff Russo became one of 75 counties to help the federal immigration authorities with raids. He has been in local law enforcement for 43 and he’s a Republican who believes by participating he is making the country safe again. Alphonso David, the chief counsel to Governor Cuomo expressed that, “State police agencies do not and will not engage in such activity, and we are troubled that one local sheriff in the state has decided to participate,” 

Under the program, Ice will train two staff corrections officers to identify, interrogate and turn over inmates and those who are awaiting criminal trial for being in the country illegally.

 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/nyregion/new-york-rensselaer-county-ice-jails.html

ICE Spokesman Quit

James Schwab former spokesman for immigration and customs enforcement in San Francisco resigned after the recent immigrant raid in the Bay Area. Schwab told the SF Chronicle that the Trump administration officials exaggerated the number of undocumented immigrants who avoided arrest after Oakland Mayor Bibby Schaaf tipped off the public days before the raid. ICE arrested 232 people were arrested in the sweep and the number could have been higher without the tip. The Director of ICE Thomas Homan stated that about 864 “criminal aliens” escaped arrest. Trump complained to the media that the round up could have been close to 1000 people. “Schaaf applauded Schwab’s decision. 

“Our democracy depends on public servants who act with integrity and hold transparency in the highest regard,” the mayor said in a statement.

Sessions escalated the dispute last week by filing a lawsuit against the state of California over its so-called sanctuary cities― areas that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities”.