California will become the first sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants in the United States

California will become the first sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants in the United States Video: California may become a paradise for undocumented immigrants Source: China News Network China News Service, San Francisco, October 5...

China News Service, San Francisco, October 5 (Reporter) Liu Dan) California Governor Brown signed a controversial asylum law SB54 on the 5th to support the protection of undocumented immigrants. This law will be implemented from 2018, and California will become the first sanctuary state in the United States.

This bill, proposed by State Senate President Kevin Delane, who was elected from Los Angeles, passed the state House of Representatives with a vote of 49 to 25 on September 15 this year. The Senate voted in favor of it with a vote of 27 to 11 on the 16th. Brown signed it into law on October 5.

This bill was passed by the parliament in April this year, but was opposed by the police. The main content of the revised bill is to prohibit state law enforcement officers from asking people about their immigration status and prohibit state law enforcement officers from participating in federal immigration enforcement operations. Police are allowed to notify federal immigration enforcement if an immigrant is convicted of one or more serious crimes among some 800 criminal offences. State law enforcement officers are prohibited from turning immigrants over to federal officials if the offense is a misdemeanor. In addition, the bill would allow federal immigration enforcement agents to continue working with state corrections officials to enter county jails to interview people convicted of immigration crimes.

Brown also signed 10 other laws related to immigrant rights that day, including limiting the number of detention centers, expanding education services for immigrants, and expanding protections for undocumented immigrants in rental housing and workplaces.

Brown said these laws will ensure those who work hard to contribute to California are respected.

Undocumented immigrants will no longer have to worry about being deported if they report crimes to law enforcement, supporters of the law say. Opponents worry that California will become unsafe as a result, with the state protecting criminal undocumented immigrants at the expense of law-abiding citizens. (over)