A public interest group that pushes for tougher immigration enforcement is urging California's governor to veto a controversial bill that would allow illegal alien felons to be released back onto the streets, rather than deported.
Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), explains that in late August, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1081, also known as the "Trust Act," which has been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for consideration.
"The Trust Act would require that law enforcement all across California release illegal criminal aliens that they have picked up for other offenses back onto the streets, rather than honor detainer requests from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) bureau, unless the person that they're asking to detain is somebody who has a very serious criminal offense on his or her record," Mehlman details.
He says law enforcement agencies are almost universally calling for the governor to veto AB 1081.
"California sheriffs have come out very strongly against it," the FAIR spokesman reports. "Even Sheriff Lee Baca in Los Angeles County, which is notorious for being soft on illegal immigration -- even he has said this goes too far."
If Brown does not veto the bill by Sunday, September 30, it automatically goes into effect.
"We also have to remember that these days under the current administration, ICE is only asking for detainers against people they consider to be a threat to American society," Mehlman notes. "So, if ICE is asking that law enforcement hold these people, you can bet that these are people who shouldn't be here."
Mehlman hopes citizens will contact Gov. Brown and urge him to veto AB 1081.