California Governor Takes Action Against Immigration Raids and Concealed Federal Agents
With the objective of safeguarding immigrants in schools, hospitals, and other commonly targeted locations by federal agents, California's Governor has approved a series of bills. This move comes as a reaction to the severe immigration raids that have disrupted Southern California.
The Governor also enacted a law that prohibits federal agents from wearing masks, making California the pioneer state in this regard. The Governor criticized the current administration, likening the country's situation to that of a "dystopian sci-fi movie" where concealed agents forcibly transport immigrants without legal status into unmarked vehicles.
"We are not North Korea", States the Governor
The Governor emphasized that the legislation was a countermeasure against what he termed as the "secret police" that was intensifying immigration enforcement in cities dominated by the opposition party.
Details of the New Legislation
Under a new law, school administrators will be mandated to inform families and students if federal agents conduct immigration operations on a K-12 or college campus.
Another law will restrict immigration agents from nonpublic areas of a school without a judicial warrant or court order. Additionally, it will prevent school districts from sharing information about students, their families, teachers, and school employees with immigration authorities without a warrant.
Healthcare officials will be barred from revealing a patient's immigration status or birthplace or granting access to nonpublic spaces in hospitals and clinics to immigration authorities without a search warrant or court order.
New Law Targets Masked Federal Immigration Officers
A new law has been introduced to deal with masked federal immigration officers who have started detaining immigrants at unexpected places like hardware stores and car washes. This law applies to both local and federal officers, but state police such as the highway patrol officers are exempt for undisclosed reasons.
Those who support the administration's immigration approach argue that masks are essential for protecting the identities and safety of immigration officers. A government department recently urged the Governor to veto the anti-mask legislation, which is expected to be contested by the federal government.
The series of bills has already led to disagreements between state and federal officials. The Governor's office sparked controversy after announcing that a certain politician was going to have a tough day. This comment led to an acting U.S. attorney accusing the Governor of threatening said politician.
Legal Concerns Over The New Legislation
The U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause states that federal law supersedes state law, leading some legal experts to question whether California can enforce legislation targeted at federal immigration officials. The acting U.S. attorney asserted that California has no jurisdiction over the federal government and has instructed federal agencies not to alter their operations.
Officials from the state's highway patrol and a major city's police department did not immediately respond to questions about how the mask law would be enforced. County Sheriff's Department officials mentioned they would seek legal counsel to evaluate the new law.
The state has been unsuccessful in preventing federal officers from arresting immigrants based on their appearance, language, and location. Although a court put a temporary stop to these raids, considering them clear instances of racial profiling, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the decision and allowed the detentions to continue.
Other States Considering Similar Measures
Other states are also contemplating similar actions to unmask federal agents. For instance, one state recently prohibited law enforcement officers from wearing masks inside state courthouses unless it's medically necessary.
The Governor also signed a bill that targets immigration officers who are in plainclothes but fail to identify themselves. The law mandates law enforcement officers in plainclothes to display their agency, along with either a badge number or name, with some exemptions.
