California governor agrees to immigrant protections

UNITED STATES: California Governor Jerry Brown and the state Senate leader said yesterday they’ve agreed to changes in proposed legislation that would further restrict interactions between law enforcement officers and federal immigration agents.

The agreement came on the same day the state sued the Trump administration over its decision to end a program that shields young immigrants from deportation.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-los Angeles, agreed to changes demanded by Brown following fierce opposition from sheriffs and other lawenforcement officials.

The bill would still prohibit state and local police from asking about people’s immigration status or enforcing federal immigration laws.

However, following yesterday’s changes, it would preserve the ability of law officers to co-operate on federal task forces as long as the task force doesn’t specifically work on immigration enforcement.

Police and jail officials would be able to notify US immigration agents if they detain people with convictions for some 800 crimes, including serious felonies, battery, assault and sexual crimes.

Immigration agents would still be allowed to interview immigrants in jail, and immigration agents would not be barred from accessing state databases.

``This bill protects public safety and people who come to California to work hard and make this state a better place,’' Brown said.

Brown and de Leon reached their agreement in the last week of the legislative year. The Assembly and Senate must approve the measure by Friday or delay action until next year. -AP