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SB 54, ‘Sanctuary City Bill,’ Awaits Governor’s Signature
SB 54, ‘Sanctuary City Bill,’ Awaits Governor’s Signature

SB 54, ‘Sanctuary City Bill,’ Awaits Governor’s Signature

SB 54 passed Saturday morning by state legislators with a State Senate vote of 27-11 and now moves on to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk to be signed, according to a LASD news release.


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Senate Bill 54 is a “sanctuary city” bill, designed to protect those in California without legal residency. The bill, authored by Senator Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, restructures the communication networks between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities while also preventing officers from holding or questioning people due to immigration violations.

SB 54 passed through the State Assembly on Friday, Sept 15, although Assemblyman Acosta, R-Santa Clarita, and Assemblyman Lackey, R-Palmdale, voted against the legislation.

On the Senate floor Saturday morning, Senator Henry Stern D-Canoga Park voted in favor of the legislation, Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, voted against it.

“The Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 54 (SB 54) and the anticipated signing by Governor Brown, marks the end of a long, and at times, contentious debate about immigration and the role of law enforcement in California,” said LASD Sheriff Jim McDonnell in a statement regarding the passage of SB 54. “The legislation initially proposed, put to the test the trust that we in local policing must earn every day with the communities we serve.”

With the first draft of the bill meeting great controversy, law enforcement officials, policy makers, advocacy groups and community stakeholders negotiated a bill that was suitable for all parties, according to the LASD news release.

“SB 54 clearly reflects what is working in Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” said McDonnell. “While not perfect, SB 54 kept intact our ability to maintain partnerships with federal law enforcement officials who help us in the fight against gangs, drugs and human trafficking.”

SB 54 reaffirms the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to have controlled access to local jails and also catalyzed LASD command staff to remind their deputies of Department policy to not ask for the immigration status of a person.

“We can move beyond the bill’s early false premise that local law enforcement was going to act as immigration agents,” said McDonnell. “Public safety is our mission (and that) requires that people come forward if they are a crime victim or be willing to come forth as a witness to a crime without fear of being deported.”

SB 54 was first introduced publically on December 5, 2016.

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SB 54, ‘Sanctuary City Bill,’ Awaits Governor’s Signature

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About Caleb Lunetta

Caleb has been a Santa Clarita resident for most of his life. After attending Hart High School, Caleb went on to study political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara along with College of the Canyons.