Tuesday, May 25, 2010

California Law, Arizona Law, and Immigration Enforcement

As graphically emphasized in a YouTube video by Arizona's Governor, you can learn a lot just by reading.

With all the national and international controversy over Arizona's new immigration law (SB 1070), one might wonder about California's existing immigration law. Read on and be amazed.

QUESTIONS:
  • Are California's sanctuary cities in clear violation of federal law and of California Penal Code, Section 834b? If so, why isn't 834b being enforced?
  • Are arrests of illegal aliens being reported by California's sanctuary cities? If not, is this not also a violation of California law?
  • How is California's law materially different than Arizona's controversial immigration law?

California Penal Code, Section 834b:
www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=833-851.90

    834b. (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is ARRESTED if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.


    (b) With respect to any such person who is ARRESTED, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following:

    (1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

    (2) Notify the person of his or her apparent status as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws and inform him or her that, apart from any criminal justice proceedings, he or she must either obtain legal status or leave the United States.

    (3) Notify the Attorney General of California and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the apparent illegal status and provide any additional information that may be requested by any other public entity.

    (c) Any legislative, administrative, or other action by a city, county, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with jurisdictional boundaries, or by a law enforcement agency, to prevent or limit the cooperation required by subdivision (a) is expressly prohibited.

    2 comments:

    1. Very similar to Arizona, I wonder what the barriers to enforcement are?

      ReplyDelete
    2. Arresting illegals is a waste of resources and money that should be used to fight real crime because the illegals will be deported and then back within a month. If you were serious about curbing the flow of illegals then you would call for stiff penalties on employers. The truth is that the businesses who control the politics don't want to end the flow of cheap laber and the people do not want to pay more for their produce. In fact, the businesses may not be able to compete. They may go under due to stiff competition from foreign produce, so you have to question whether it would be what would be best for the State too. I have heard that the illegals pay way more into the State then they take out because they have to pay taxes but are unwilling or unable to get most services except for health care and maybe schooling for their children. For example, they have to pay social security taxes, but can not collect it. This is why all of the political solutions include amnesty and a system to allow for "Guest Worker" programs.

      ReplyDelete