Thread: CA-Immigration program opt-out OKd by Assembly

Immigration program opt-out OKd by Assembly


05-26) 17:06 PDT Sacramento -- The California Assembly approved a bill Thursday to allow counties to opt out of a federal program to combat illegal immigration that opponents say rips families apart, leads to racial profiling and erodes trust between law enforcement and immigrants.

Under the Secure Communities program, initiated by President Obama, the fingerprints of anyone booked into a county jail are automatically cross-checked against immigration databases. If a person is determined to be undocumented, local authorities hand them over to federal officials for possible deportation.

Several law enforcement authorities and other public officials have criticized the program, saying it jeopardizes relations with immigrant communities and separates people who have not been convicted of crimes from their families. Opponents have cited instances in which illegal immigrants were deported after they were booked on nothing more than traffic violations.

The measure by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, seeks to allow counties to opt out of the program. Two Bay Area counties - San Francisco and Santa Clara - have formally sought permission from the federal government to do so. Several other cities and counties in California have passed resolutions supporting the bill, AB1081, or are considering doing so.

Elsewhere, Illinois has said it will withdraw from the program, and Maryland and Massachusetts are studying whether to do so.
Contract changes

Under Ammiano's measure, the state would be required to renegotiate its contract with the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division so counties could opt out.

It is not clear how federal officials would react. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told The Chronicle that local communities cannot opt in or out of Secure Communities.

Nevertheless, Thursday's 43-22 vote in favor of the measure is a big win for Latino advocates and other supporters, including San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey, who said the federal program violates "hard-earned trust" between law enforcement and immigrants.

The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Gov. Jerry Brown has not said whether he will sign the measure.
Heated debate

During a heated floor debate on the bill Thursday, Republican opponents said supporters were violating their oath of office by refusing to uphold federal immigration laws and accused them of wanting to protect dangerous and violent criminals.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, countered that nearly 70 percent of people who have been referred for deportation under the program have either committed minor offenses or have not been charged at all.

He cited the case of Isaura Garcia, a Los Angeles County woman who faced deportation after she reported being physically abused by her boyfriend. Immigration officials eventually suspended the deportation hearings after an outcry, but Alejo said the case "sent a chilling message across the immigrant community."

Ammiano called the program a "farce," saying it leads to racial profiling.

"There is no shame in protecting people who are vulnerable," he said. "Who is it that is cleaning your house but cannot sleep there, who is paying taxes but can't stay in our country, who is fighting in Afghanistan but is being dehumanized?"
San Francisco case

In speaking against the bill, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks (San Bernardino County), cited the case of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16, who were shot to death in San Francisco in June 2008. The alleged gunman, Edwin Ramos, is undocumented and, despite being convicted of two felonies as a juvenile, San Francisco officials did not turn him over to immigration officials.

Donnelly blamed San Francisco's "sanctuary city" law for the killings. At the time Ramos committed his juvenile offenses, city officials interpreted the law as barring them from referring underage felons to federal officials for deportation.

"Shame on San Francisco and shame on anyone who would invite and protect dangerous criminals - we're not talking about ordinary people pulled over for traffic violations," Donnelly said. "I would urge a no vote, and I would ask one thing: I would invite you to sit in the living room of (widow) Danielle Bologna, whose family was slaughtered by an illegal alien drug thug who was put back on the street by San Francisco's sanctuary city policy."
Angry reaction

Ammiano reacted angrily, saying that the Bologna family has specifically asked not be used in the Secure Communities debate and noting that immigration officials were informed of Ramos' immigration status months before the Bolognas were slain.

"That assailant was reported to ICE and you know what happened? ICE didn't act because they were probably out busting a crossing guard or a mom on her way to work," Ammiano said.

E-mail Marisa Lagos at mlagos@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z1NYb5HOYQ

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Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, countered that nearly 70 percent of people who have been referred for deportation under the program have either committed minor offenses or have not been charged at all.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, by his own testimony, does not believe simply being illegal in this country is a deportable offense; a position clearly counter to current immigration law. In fact, he would expect another criminal act to be committed before we can even begin to discuss deportation. Apparently, it also bothers him if an illegal invader is deported for committing a "minor offense." No telling what his definition of a "minor offense" concerning deportation.

In any event, it's the Luis Alejo's of this country who are doing everything in their power to hand this country over to their beloved illegal invaders, by subverting current law and replacing it with their own version of law, meant to benefit criminal invaders.

Originally Posted by working4change

. . . The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Gov. Jerry Brown has not said whether he will sign the measure. . .

Gov. Jerry Brown is a supporter of Secure Communities,

and as state attorney general ratified the agreement with the federal government.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-223652.html

It is not clear how federal officials would react. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told The Chronicle that local communities cannot opt in or out of Secure Communities.

I think they will stick to this but time will tell.

Thank you, JD, for reminding us of what Jerry Brown has stated before re this issue. May find out soon if his opinion is the same or has changed.