Immigration policy takes center stage in Stockton

STOCKTON — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra vowed to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program during a round-table discussion organized by Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs that was heavily focused on immigration and public safety.

The Thursday meeting, which included several elected leaders and community organizations, happened on the day when national media announced President Donald Trump was considering ending the Obama administration’s DACA program. DACA allows certain undocumented people to apply for a renewable two-year reprieve from deportation, as well as obtain a work permit. There are about 800,000 people protected by DACA.

Becerra said his office is looking at every option available to the state to legally protect the program.

“We are prepared to do everything we can to defend the DACA program and the young people who have demonstrated that DACA has been a success not just for them but the economy,” he said.

Tubbs said the issue is personal for him, as he has friends, classmates and colleagues who benefit from the program.

“It’s important to understand that they add value,” he said. “Our community wouldn’t be what it is without their contributions. It’s important that we allow them the opportunity to be a part of our community, because we both lose if they’re not.”

Immigration has been a topic of concern among many of the local organizations represented Thursday, who said they have seen growing fears within the immigrant community. Many in attendance wanted to know how Becerra would respond if DACA is terminated, how the city and state could help immigrant communities, and where he stands on sanctuary cities and the threat from the Trump administration to withhold funding.

“We need to understand the rights of states and cities to defend their communities,” he said. “Immigration issues are a federal issue . ... We don’t have the right to manage immigration issues, but we can protect people who are immigrants . ... ”

On Aug. 3, the Department of Justice announced that cities asking for help fighting violent crime must tell the DOJ whether local law enforcement is helping federal immigration authorities deport undocumented immigrants. Stockton, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Baltimore and San Bernardino were singled out.

Tubbs said the entire letter from Attorney General Jeff Sessions didn’t pertain to Stockton because the city does not run a jail. He added that the Stockton Police Department has an understanding that immigrants are part of the community and that it’s not good policing to stop, detain, frisk or question people simply on suspicion of immigration status.

When asked about the misidentification of Stockton as a sanctuary city, Tubbs said “there’s no real definite definition of what sanctuary city is.

“It’s more of a euphemism than a term versus an actual thing, but our policies are consistent with other cities that have called themselves sanctuary cities.”

Becerra said for his part he’s been meeting with law enforcement members to talk about their roles and responsibilities in public safety. Communities want law enforcement agencies to focus on protecting the public, not enforcing immigration law, which is a responsibility that falls on the federal government.