The California “Sanctuary State” law went into effect at the start on the new year, limiting state and local law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal agents on immigration.

Senate Bill 54, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on Oct. 5, bars state and local agencies from using their resources, including money, facility, property, equipment or personnel, to help with immigration enforcement.

With the law going into effect this year, it marks the first state in the union to pass a “Sanctuary State” bill, according to officials.

The cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have already passed similar measures.

Law enforcement agencies would be prohibited from asking about immigration status, giving federal immigration authorities access to interview a person in custody or assisting them in immigration enforcement, according to the bill.

SB 54 bars law enforcement from detaining a person due to a hold request, responding to federal immigration enforcement’s requests for notification or providing information about a person’s release date unless that is already available publicly.

The bill contains some exceptions, allowing local agencies to transfer individuals to federal immigration authorities if there is a judicial warrant or if the person has been previously convicted of a violent felony. It also requires notification to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement of scheduled releases of people who have been convicted of violent felonies.

The immigration issue looms large in California where nearly a quarter of the US population of undocumented immigrants reside. Estimates range from 2.35 to 2.6 million, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

The term “sanctuary cities” refers to jurisdictions including counties and major cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco that have policies in place that limit cooperation in enforcing federal immigration laws and protect local immigrant populations.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the Trump administration will use federal funds to crack down on “sanctuary cities” and states that choose not to comply with federal immigration laws.

Senator Henry Stern, D-Canoga Park, voted in favor of the bill, while Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita and Assemblyman Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita voted against.

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