End of California's sanctuary status? Senator pushes bill to limit protections for immigrants

State Senator Brian Jones , the Republican minority leader in California, has introduced a bill that seeks to reform the current Securities Act, known as the “sanctuary law.” This initiative comes in response to San Diego County’s recent vote to restrict local resources from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ).

Jones’ proposal, dubbed SB 554 or the Security Before Criminal Sanctuary Act , aims primarily to amend current law to mandate cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE in serious crime cases, as currently, the law gives local agencies discretion in these situations. Additionally, the bill seeks to prohibit local jurisdictions from implementing ordinances that impose additional restrictions beyond those established at the state level.

During a press conference at the San Diego County Administration Center , Jones said, “Our bill is a direct response to this radical and unconscionable policy, and was born out of the concerns of immigrant communities in my district.” The senator was joined by other elected officials, including El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, who expressed support for the bill.

The introduction of the bill generated immediate reactions from pro-immigrant groups and community members. Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee, expressed concern about the proposal and stressed the importance of maintaining current protections for immigrant communities.

“SB 54 was reasoned and stopped by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That is the law,” Rios told the San Diego Union Tribute, referring to the legislation’s prior validation by the courts.

For her part, Arcela Núñez , director of the community organization Universidad Popular , highlighted the potential impact of the reform on working families. “We are here because we belong; this is our community, this is our country,” she said, while highlighting the contribution of immigrants to California society.

The California Values ​​Act, or “sanctuary law,” was passed in 2017 under President Jerry Brown , and restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities except in cases of serious crimes. Designed to build trust between communities and police, this legislation sought to ensure that residents could report crimes without fear of retaliation.

Now, Sen. Brian Jones is pushing SB 554 against a backdrop of President Donald Trump’s toughening stance on immigration. His recent executive order threatens to withhold federal funding from states and cities that maintain “sanctuary” policies, potentially severely affecting California, which relies on these funds for social programs and disaster recovery.

The bill is still awaiting assignment to a state Senate committee, but debate is already underway. Lawmakers, local officials and community organizations are preparing for a political battle that will define the scope of the sanctuary law and its alignment with new federal policies.