TURNING THE GOLDEN STATE INTO A SANCTUARY STATE

A REPORT ON THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT (SB 54)
MARCH 2019  PREPARED BY
ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE-ASIAN LAW CAUCUS
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD CENTRE FOR CRIMINOLOGY
BORDER CRIMINOLOGIES
CONTENTS
Organizations.................................................... 1

Acknowledgements........................................... 1

Executive Summary...........................................3

Acronyms...........................................................6

Background.......................................................7

Overview of SB 54...........................................10

Overview of the Data....................................... 12

Findings........................................................... 12

Recommendations......................................... 25

Conclusion...................................................... 29

List of Agencies Examined............................. 30

ORGANIZATIONS
About Asian Americans Advancing Justice –
Asian Law Caucus
Founded in 1972, Asian Americans
Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is the
nation’s first legal and civil rights organization
serving low-income Asian Pacific American
communities. Advancing Justice – ALC focuses
on housing rights, immigration and immigrants’
rights, labor and employment issues, student
advocacy, civil rights and hate violence, national
security, and criminal justice reform. As a
founding affiliate of Asian Americans Advancing
Justice, the organization also helps to set national
policies in immigration, affirmative action, voting
rights, Census and language rights. Their three-
prong strategy integrates the provision of legal
services, educational programs, community
organizing initiatives and advocacy.

About the University of Oxford Centre About Border Criminologies

for Criminology Based at the Centre for Criminology at the
The Centre for Criminology at the University University of Oxford, Border Criminologies is
of Oxford is part of the Faculty of Law within an international network of researchers, border
the Social Sciences Division and enjoys a control professionals, and those who have
reputation as a world-leading research and experienced border control. Border Criminologies
teaching institution. It is dedicated to pursuing explores the growing interconnections between
an innovative program of criminological and border control and criminal justice and maintains
criminal justice research and to delivering the the first open access scholarly journal on
highest quality undergraduate education on migration, criminal justice, and borders research.
the university’s undergraduate Law FHS degree
and graduate education at both the master’s
and doctoral level. The Centre’s members are
committed to connecting criminological work ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to the broader concerns of the social sciences;
to thinking comparatively about crime and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law
punishment; to bringing together sociological and Caucus, the University of Oxford Centre for
normative approaches to the analysis of crime Criminology, and the Border Criminologies
and justice; and to working at the intersections Program would like to thank the following
between criminology and public policy. organizations for their immense work preparing,
sending, receiving, tracking, and organizing

1
public records requests for data and documents About the Author Peter Mancina
that this report is based upon: American Civil Dr. Peter Mancina is Research Associate in Border
Liberties Union Foundations of California, Criminologies at the Centre for Criminology of
the California Immigrant Policy Center, Asian the University of Oxford. His work has examined
Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, the history, development, and implementation of
the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, sanctuary policies at the city, county, and state
and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in level, with a particular expertise on the creation
response to individual public records requests to and implementation of sanctuary policies in
each local law enforcement agency. We would San Francisco, California. He has a Ph.D from
also like to thank members of the ICE Out of Vanderbilt University and is author of various
California Coalition for their feedback on prior publications examining the topic.
drafts of this report. In particular, we would like
to thank Jon Rodney, Layla Razavi, Felicia Gomez, About the Project Supervisor Angela Chan
Grisel Ruiz, Jessica Karp Bansal, Chris Newman, Angela Chan is the Policy Director and a
Emi MacLean, and Maria Romani. Additionally, Senior Staff Attorney managing the Criminal
we would like to thank the Syracuse University Justice Reform Program at Asian Americans
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse Advancing Justice–Asian Law Caucus in San
(TRAC) for making ICE data on arrests in Francisco, California. Since 2008, Angela has
California available and for answering questions focused on defending and passing Sanctuary
about the data. Ordinances to limit local and state law
enforcement entanglement with immigration
enforcement. Angela served on the San

2
Francisco Police Commission from 2010–2014, local jails, implementation of SB 54 remains
which is a chartered city civilian commission that largely partial and unfinished. This report
adjudicates officer disciplinary cases and sets examines publicly disclosed documents from
policies for the police department. She was a 169 California LEAs and finds that 23 use out-of-
judicial law clerk to the Honorable Napoleon A. date, pre-SB 54 immigration enforcement-related
Jones in the Southern District of California and policies or post-SB 54 policies that nonetheless
has a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. include out of date provisions or which omit
major new prohibitions. Also, 40 additional
LEAs use policies primarily drafted for them by
a private company, Lexipol, which are not in
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY compliance with the law. Finally, 5 LEAs have
no immigration enforcement-related agency
In October 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown policies. In total, 68 out of 169 LEAs, about 40%,
signed into law the “California Values Act,” were out of compliance with SB 54.
also known by its legislative bill number SB 54,
authored by Senate President Kevin de León, to This report also finds many LEAs attempted to
limit local and state law enforcement entanglement neutralize the effect of SB 54 by exploiting an
with immigration enforcement. This sanctuary state exception in the law. Under SB 54, LEAs can only
law restricts local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) provide release date information to ICE or CBP if
in California from expending agency resources detainees meet certain criminal history related
for the purpose of assisting U.S. Immigration and requirements, or if the information is already
Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and available to the general public. Twenty-four out
Border Protection (CBP) in identifying, detaining, of fifty-eight, or 41%, of Sheriff’s Departments
arresting, and transferring custody of immigrants have taken advantage of this latter exception by
to these agencies for deportation purposes. posting on their department websites release
date information for individuals in their custody
in advance of their release, upcoming court
In its first five months from hearing dates and locations, and detainee
January 2018 to May 2018, personal information including city of residence
and occupation. This practice provides ICE
SB 54 implementation an opportunity to detain and deport people
led to a 41% decrease at the point of release from LEA custody even
though the individual may not have the criminal
in ICE arrests at local conviction history that would allow LEAs to
jails compared to the conduct an in custody transfer to ICE or directly
notify ICE of the individual’s release date. A
immediately preceding number of Sheriff’s Departments began posting
five months from August this information only after passage of SB 54.

2017 to December 2017. In addition to publicly posting release information,

some LEAs also have tried to get around SB 54 by
Notwithstanding its immediate impact in allowing ICE to enter non-public, secure areas of
substantially reducing immigration arrests in jail facilities to effectuate immigration arrests at

3
the time the individual is required to be released rule, California should remove SB 54’s exceptions
in the criminal matter. Given that in these for sharing release information based on criminal
“releases,” there is no effective break in the chain charges and convictions history or when the
of custody from LEAs to ICE, these arrests are information is made public. The state should also
de facto in custody transfers that nonetheless prohibit ICE and CBP from accessing information
likely are not recorded or reported as such to the in local and state criminal databases.
California Attorney General as a part of annual
reporting mandated by SB 54. This is the case 2. End LEA custody transfers to immigration
because the Attorney General’s instructions to authorities and prohibit LEAs from allowing ICE
LEAs for reporting statistics on LEA transfers of to enter non-public areas of jail facilities
individuals to ICE only require LEAs to report
transfers that are based in an individual's Our review of public records obtained from LEAs
qualifying criminal convictions and arrests codes has found that LEAs have transferred individuals
logged in jail databases. to ICE in violation of the limits placed by SB 54
by providing ICE access to non-public, secure
LEA officers additionally violate the law in a areas of the jail to effectuate immigration
variety of ways. Officers and Deputies continue arrests of individuals when they are supposed
to ask people about their immigration status; to be released. We have also found that LEAs
provide a wide range of information to ICE have transferred individuals to ICE even if they
beyond release date information; detain people do not have qualifying criminal histories. We
in jails for immigration enforcement purposes recommend drawing a clear line by prohibiting
beyond the time when they would otherwise all LEA transfers to ICE.
be released; provide space to ICE in LEA
facilities for their exclusive use; and perform the 3. Prohibit LEA involvement in joint law
activities of immigration detention officers and enforcement task forces that involve
patrol the border. immigration enforcement as a purpose, activity,
threat, or consequence
To ensure full compliance with SB 54 and to
build on the law’s existing protections by further SB 54’s existing language pertaining to joint
disentangling LEAs from immigration detentions task forces with federal immigration authorities
and deportations, this report recommends that allows LEA officers to participate in joint task
the California legislature, Governor, and Attorney forces where the “primary purpose of the joint
General take the following actions. law enforcement task force is not enforcing
immigration law.” However, there is no clear
1. Discontinue information sharing with ICE qualification for what makes a task force primarily
focused on immigration enforcement. Recent
Although SB 54 places limits on LEAs sharing publications that examine LEA joint task forces
release date information, this report finds that a with ICE demonstrate that ICE strategically
number of LEAs are exploiting exceptions in the includes threats of immigration enforcement as a
law. To prevent the exception from becoming the central component of their operations.

4
4. Prohibit LEAs from providing any jail facility 6. Prohibit LEAs from providing backup
space for use by ICE or CBP services to immigration authorities during
federal immigration enforcement operations
In a number of cases, LEAs have been exploiting
or violating a provision in SB 54 that prohibits This report finds that LEAs continue to
LEAs from providing ICE with "exclusive" office participate in immigration enforcement
space. Some LEAs have continued to station ICE operations with ICE and to support immigration
officers in dedicated offices close to or in release detention facilities by providing them emergency
areas of their jails to facilitate their access to backup support and routine police services
released individuals. such as traffic control. These services ultimately
aid in the enforcement of immigration laws and
5. Prohibit all forms of LEA border policing should be considered as part of LEA immigration
enforcement activities.
LEAs in California have continued to patrol
borders with the guidance of CBP under the 7. Extend all SB 54 protections to state prisons
auspices of enforcing federal criminal law at
the border. However, such border policing SB 54 broadly governs local and state law
has served immigration enforcement efforts enforcement cooperation in immigration
by turning LEA officers on patrol into de facto enforcement efforts, however, it only minimally
border guards. intervenes in the practices of state prisons.
SB 54 requires the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), which

5
operates state prisons, to provide individuals
in their custody with written consent forms ACRONYMS
prior to providing ICE access to interview
these individuals. However, there are no limits CA DOJ California Department of Justice
placed on CDCR transfers to ICE custody and
communication of release dates to ICE. This is CAP Criminal Alien Program
especially concerning as individuals who are
released from state prison have either served CBP United States Customs and Border
their prison sentence or earned parole through Protection
a rigorous review process by the Board of Parole
Hearings and the Governor’s Office. For these CDCR California Department of Corrections
individuals to be released by CDCR directly and Rehabilitation
into ICE custody subjects these individuals
to double punishment and does not allow CLETS California Law Enforcement
them an opportunity to be reunified with their Telecommunications System
communities and families.
CPCA California Police Chiefs Association
8. Ensure compliance with SB 54 through
investigating violations and imposing financial CSSA California State Sheriff’s Association
penalties.
DHS United States Department of Homeland
The California Attorney General plays a crucial Security
role in ensuring that LEAs comply with the intent
and the letter of SB 54. The California Attorney ICE United States Immigration and Customs
General should use this report to reach out to Enforcement
specific LEAs to notify them of their need to
modify their policies or to adopt new policies LEA Law Enforcement Agency
to bring them into compliance with SB 54. The
Attorney General should also should establish a PD Police Department
process for receiving and reviewing complaints
of violations of SB 54 from the public. Finally, SB 54 Senate Bill 54, “The California Values
SB 54 should be amended to allow the Attorney Act,” codified in Sections 7282, 7282.5,
General to levy fines against LEAs that violate the 7284 to 7284.12 of the California
law’s provisions. Government Code

A complete list of legislative, executive, and TRAC Transactional Records Access

oversight actions to implement this report’s Clearinghouse
recommendations is included at the end of this
report.

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BACKGROUND: CALIFORNIA
VALUES ACT (SB 54)
In October 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown
signed into law an omnibus “sanctuary state”
policy, the “California Values Act,” also known
by its legislative bill number SB 54, following
many years of grassroots immigrant advocate
organizing, policy advocacy work, and legislative
negotiations with statewide law enforcement
associations. The primary intent of the law is to
limit the degree to which local law enforcement
agencies (LEAs) in California can assist the
federal government in immigration enforcement.
SB 54, which took effect on January 1, 2018,
prohibits state and local law enforcement
agencies, including school and university
police and security departments, from using
money or personnel “to investigate, interrogate,
detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration
enforcement purposes.” The law also regulates sharing with ICE without exception, these
LEA involvement with federal immigration allowances for sharing information with ICE when
enforcement when LEAs engage in joint task a detainee has met certain criminal history screens
force operations with immigration authorities. or when release date information has already
been publicly posted, were included as a result
SB 54 prohibits LEAs from providing information of the lobbying by the California State Sheriff’s
to ICE regarding the date, time, and location of Association (CSSA) and the California Police Chiefs
an individual’s release from jail, as well as other Association (CPCA).2
related identifying personal information unless
the individual meets certain criminal history and At a California Police Chiefs Association meeting
criminal charges requirements. This provision is in September 2017, when SB 54 was at the
intended to limit the ability of LEAs to assist ICE in Assembly Floor, CPCA President Ed Medrano
arresting individuals at the point when the criminal reported to the others in attendance, “There
matter requires their release. However, a major are loopholes you can exploit. You can post
exception to this provision is the allowance for release dates on your website so ICE can see
release date information to be shared when the
LEA has already made that information available 2 Law enforcement associations involved in these
to the public, for instance on their website.1 While negotiations included the California Police Chiefs
Association (CPCA), the California State Sheriff’s
the original SB 54 bill text prohibited information
Association (CSSA), California Police Officers Association
(CPOA), California Highway Patrol (CPH), and the Peace
1 See CA Gov. Code §7284.6(1)(C)-(D). Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)

7
them that way.”3 In a CPCA legislative update a LEA began posting such information on its
email to all members a few days later, the website after passage of SB 54, the LEA may
organization’s lobbyist mentioned, “Cal Chiefs be violating the “catch all” provision in SB 54
was successful in neutralizing this bill by getting that prohibits LEAs from using “moneys or
amendments that provide broad authority for personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain,
police departments to work with ICE, allow ICE detect, or arrest persons for immigration
access to jails and expand the ability for local enforcement purposes.”5 In addition, the manner
law enforcement to communicate with ICE about in which departments modify their policies
inmates in state prison or those incarcerated for under the auspices of SB 54’s prohibitions and
one of over 800 crimes listed.”4 allowances is largely determined by whether
or not a particular LEA wants to exploit such an
Even though the final version of SB 54 includes information-sharing loophole or not. It comes
the “publicly available” exception to the down to whether an LEA wants to deport as
limitations on sharing release information, if many potentially removable immigrants as are
identified through the Secure Communities
3 CPCA Board Executive Committee Meeting, Minutes,
September 14, 2017.
4 See id. 5 See CA Gov. Code §7284.6(a)(1).

8
Program,6 or whether they want to refrain state, this law in the first year has already had
from such liberal posting so as to limit the effect of significantly reducing ICE arrests at
their cooperation with ICE. In this manner, jails. Nonetheless, major legislative and oversight
implementation comes down to organizational action needs to be taken to ensure that LEAs
culture and could have the potential to either fully implement policies that comply with the
increase or seriously diminish the number of intent of the law, minimize the number of arrests
locally assisted deportations across California. ICE is still making as a result of LEA cooperation
and information sharing, and address instances
It is important to note that SB 54 merely where LEAs are outright defying SB 54 and
establishes a minimum baseline of protections violating its provisions.
for immigrants, and that SB 54 allows
local jurisdictions and LEAs to adopt more
protections, including ending all ICE notifications
It is important to note that
and transfers. For example, in November 2018, SB 54 merely establishes
the voters of Humboldt County passed Measure
K, which sets a higher standard of protections
a minimum baseline of
for immigrants than SB 54, including removing protections for immigrants,
exceptions to the limits on local law enforcement
sharing information with ICE. In addition, a
and that SB 54 allows local
number of other local jurisdictions, including the jurisdictions and LEAs to
City and County of San Francisco, the County of
Santa Clara, the City of Santa Ana, and the City
adopt more protections,
of Pacifica, have adopted ordinances that have including ending all ICE
drawn a brighter line of separation between local
law enforcement and ICE.
notifications and transfers.

Largely hailed as the most expansive sanctuary

law in the country, affecting over 300 local
police departments, 58 sheriff’s departments,
state law enforcement agencies, and school and
university police departments throughout the

6 The Secure Communities Program is a Department

of Homeland Securities (DHS) program whereby the
fingerprints of all people processed in LEA facilities
nationwide and which are automatically sent to the
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for criminal
background checks are automatically cross-checked for
immigration violations in DHS ICE and CBP databases. If
DHS databases identify a potentially deportable person,
ICE agents are prompted to send the LEA an optional
request known as a “detainer” to hold the individual for
ICE to question and obtain custody, or for information
on when the jail will release the individual to the public
where ICE can attempt an arrest.

9
 CA VALUES ACT (SB 54)
OVERVIEW
These prohibitions apply to local and state law enforcement agencies, excluding state prisons, unless otherwise
noted. In all cases, local law enforcement agencies can adopt policies that provide more protections.
For more information, visit www.iceoutofca.org.

POLICE-ICE TACTIC UNDER SB 54

Immigration Holds Prohibited.

Making arrests on civil

Prohibited.
immigration warrants

287g
Prohibited.

Asking about immigration

status or using immigration Prohibited.
agents as interpreters.

Sharing personal info with ICE

Prohibited unless publicly available.
(e.g., work, home addresses)

Prohibited unless:
• Revised TRUST Act exception applies, including:
• Conviction for a felony punishable by imprisonment in state prison at any time
• Conviction within past 15 years for any other specified felony. The 15-year
“wash” is an
Notifying ICE of
improvement on the old TRUST Act standard.
release dates
• Conviction within the past 5 years for a misdemeanor for a specified wobbler
offense.
• Charges for a crime that is serious, violent, or punishable by a term in state
prison if
finding of probable cause has been made by a magistrate pursuant to PC 872.
• If release dates/times are already publicly available, can be shared

10
 CA VALUES ACT (SB 54)

POLICE-ICE TACTIC UNDER SB 54

Prohibited unless:
• Revised TRUST Act exception applies (see above under notifications)
Transfers to ICE • Warrant or probable cause determination from a judge that someone has
violated federal criminal immigration law.
Local law enforcement required to report number of transfers and basis for
transfer to Attorney General’s Office.

Prohibited except local law enforcement may arrest someone for unlawful
re-entry following deportation if
Local arrests for
“criminal” violations • The re-entry is detected during an unrelated law enforcement activity, and
of immigration law • The person has a prior “aggravated felony” conviction
Any person arrested for unlawful reentry may be transferred to ICE only if a
revised TRUST exception applies.

TRUTH Act protections essentially expanded to prisons (can’t be

ICE interviews in jail
interviewed by ICE unless sign consent form prior to interview). Prohibition
and prison
on providing office space exclusively dedicated to ICE in local jails.

Some limitations and reporting requirements imposed.

• Primary purpose of task force must be unrelated to immigration
enforcement, and
Joint Task
forces • Participation does not violate any local law or policy.
• Local law enforcement required to report information about joint
taskforce operations to CA Attorney General and information is available
as a public record.

Attorney General will draft advisory guidelines to ensure that databases

Databases are not used for immigration enforcement. State and local law enforcement
agencies are encouraged but not required, to adopt guidelines.

11
 and “Removals Under the Secure Communities
THE DATA Program” from June 2009 through June 2018.
TRAC obtained this data from ICE after bringing
Analysis for this report was completed after successful court litigation requiring public FOIA
review of publicly disclosed documents from 169 disclosure requests to be honored. This data
law enforcement agencies including 121 police comprises the most recent data to isolate the ICE
departments and 48 Sheriff’s Departments, arrest types – the “method of apprehension” – on
spanning every county in the state of California. a month-by-month basis.
The extensive list of documents and information
reviewed included policies, regulations,
memorandum, guidance, and forms that LEAs
adopted related to the implementation of SB 54; FINDINGS
records of materials used to train LEA employees
on SB 54 related protocols; communications 1. After the implementation of SB 54 in January
between the LEA and the public regarding 2018, ICE arrests in local jails decreased overall
SB 54; communications regarding SB 54 with
officials from various agencies including the CHART 1
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the
California Department of Justice, California law
enforcement officials including the California
State Sheriffs’ Association, the California Police
Chiefs Association, and any individual California
Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, and members of their
agencies; records used by LEAs to notify an
detained individual's attorney or designee
that they are subject of an ICE request or that
ICE is seeking to interview them; LEA policies Statistical Source: ICE statistics, “CAP-Local Incarceration”
for booking immigration detainees or federal Arrests.7

criminal detainees in local facilities; and

agreements, contracts, or Memorandum of When examining ICE’s most recently available
Understanding between the DHS, CBP, or ICE and arrest data, we can see that in the first five
the LEA. These public records were requested in months of SB 54 in 2018, as compared to the
March 2018 and most responses were returned in same period in 2017, total ICE arrests of detainees
April 2018 to June 2018. in California’s local jails decreased by 985 arrests
(see Chart 1). This amounted to a 31% drop over
The second set of data that the author examined the same period in 2017 and accounted for 74%
in the course of preparing this report was the of the total drop in all ICE arrests in California
Syracuse University’s Transactional Records
Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) public data set 7 See Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse,
on “Immigration and Customs Enforcement “Immigration and Customs Enforcement Arrests: ICE
Data through May 2018,” available at: http://trac.syr.
Arrests” from October 2014 through May 2018,
edu/phptools/immigration/arrest/

12
during this period. In ICE statistical categories, By contrast, in Texas, where LEAs are prohibited
these local jail arrests are logged as “CAP-Local from implementing sanctuary policies under
Incarceration” – arrests counted as part of the a state law known as SB 4, ICE arrests in local
Criminal Alien Program wherein arrests are made jails in the first five months of 2018 increased by
in coordination with local jails and detention 39% over the same period in 2017, or by 2449
facilities where immigrants are being held. arrests (see Chart 2).

CHART 2 When comparing the first five months of SB 54

implementation in 2018 with the immediately
preceding five months – August to December
2017 – arrests at local jails in California dropped
by -1536 arrests (a 41% decrease) from the
previous five months or 54% of the total
decrease in this period. This stands in stark
contrast to an increase of 347 ICE arrests (a 4%
increase) at local jails in anti-sanctuary state
Texas (see Table 2).

Statistical Source: ICE statistics, “CAP-Local Incarceration”

Arrests.8

8 See id.

TABLE 1 Comparing CA to TX: January–May 2017 to January–May 2018

Jan–May 2017 Jan–May 2018 Change % Change

Total ICE Arrests in CA 8,321 7,853 -468 -6%
ICE Arrests in CA LEA Jails 3,198 2,213 -985 -31%
Total ICE Arrests in TX 15,613 18,044 2,431 +16%
ICE Arrests in TX LEA Jails 6,341 8,790 2,449 +39%

TABLE 2 Comparing CA to TX: August–December 2017 to January–May 2018

Aug–Dec 2017 Jan–May 2018 Change % Change

Total ICE Arrests in CA 10,356 7,853 -2,503 -24%
ICE Arrests in CA LEA Jails 3,749 2,213 -1,536 -41%
Total ICE Arrests in TX 16,056 18,044 1,988 +12%
ICE Arrests in TX LEA Jails 8,443 8,790 347 +4%

Data source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement Arrests: ICE Data through
May 2018,” available at: http://trac.syr.edu/phptools/immigration/arrest/

13
2. After SB 54 was signed into law, many
LEAs adopted policies created by the
private company Lexipol that fell short of full
compliance. WHAT IS
Following the passage of SB 54 in October
2017, the California Department of Justice (CA
DOJ) was in charge of preparing guidance
LEXIPOL?
memos on implementing SB 54 for every law Lexipol is a private company that develops
enforcement agency in California. They did not and sells model department policies to
send this guidance until late March 2018. In the law enforcement agencies throughout
absence of guidance from the CA DOJ for SB 54, California, purporting to assist these
implementation for these five months after the agencies in complying with the latest
law was signed, the company Lexipol aimed to state and federal law and case law. LEA
sell their updated “Immigration Violations” policy customers may adopt and implement
to LEAs, promising they were SB 54 compliant. model policies in their entirety, or they
Lexipol framed SB 54 to its LEA customers as may choose to modify these model
brand new with legally untested provisions that policies to meet their operational needs.
had not yet been “clarified through case law.”9 LEAs often adopt a wide variety of Lexipol
Lexipol sold their updated Immigration Violations policies in their Department policies.
model policy as one that was “carefully crafted However, Lexipol does not automatically
to balance the need to protect the civil rights of send their subscribers updates to the
community members with the need to safeguard Lexipol policies that they are already using;
lives and property and enforce the law.” rather, they advertise their updates, and
subscribers must request the update and
This “balanced” new SB-54-inclusive Lexipol work with Lexipol on edits.
policy left out much of the specific language
included in the law and subsequently encouraged
LEA officers to take immigration enforcement-
related action not allowed by SB 54.

9 Email from Lexipol Alerts sent to Lexipol subscribers,

“ACLU Memo on Immigration Violations Policy,”
February 16, 2018.

14
 40 of the 169 LEAs 54 because SB 54 repealed California Health

examined in this study and Safety code 11369.

adopted Lexipol policies • Patrol officers may notify ICE of individuals

that do not comply charged with only misdemeanors who are

not taken to jail and to release them to ICE
with SB 54.10 at the scene of contact with the person.13
This violates SB 54 because the law prohibits
A number of police departments failed to adopt notifications to ICE for individuals with only
SB 54-compliant policies because they contended misdemeanor charges.
that SB 54 only pertains to local jails. However, SB
54 applies to all local law enforcement agencies, • Patrol officers may release people to ICE
including police departments.11 For example, the who have been determined to be material
Police Departments of Del Rey Oaks, Emeryville, witnesses to a crime - someone who has
and Fairfield, as well as the Modoc County Sheriff, information critical to the outcome of
produced no policy implementing SB 54. Some a criminal case.14 SB 54 does not allow
police departments did not update their existing witnesses to a crime to be released to ICE.
immigration enforcement-related policies to
comply with SB 54. For example, the Chula Vista • Patrol officers may detain, transport to ICE,
Police Department did not update their Lexipol and release to ICE unaccompanied juveniles
“Immigration Violators” 428 policy, which allows over 14 years old who are suspected of
its patrol officers to conduct the following non- violating Welfare and Institutions Code 300.
compliant activities: Under SB 54, juvenile offenses cannot be a
basis for turning an individual over to ICE.15
• Patrol officers may report people to ICE who
are suspected of violating California Health
and Safety code 11369.12 This contradicts SB

10 The following police departments adopted a version of

this SB-54 focused Lexipol policy: Arroyo Grande, Arvin,
Bakersfield, Barstow, Beaumont, Brisbane, Carlsbad,
Coalinga, Cypress, Delano, Desert Hot Springs,
Ferndale, Fullerton, Gonzales, Hemet, Lincoln, Los
Alamitos, Los Gatos, Marina, Novato, Port Hueneme,
Reedley, Rialto, Sausalito, Seaside, Selma, Simi Valley,
Suisun, Tehachapi, Tiburon, Tulare, and Yuba. Sheriff’s
Departments that adopted this policy were Imperial
County, Lassen County, Merced County, Santa Barbara
County, Shasta County, Stanislaus County, and Trinity
County, San Benito County
11 See CA Gov. Code §7284.4 ("For purposes of this 13 This violates CA Gov. Code §§7284.6.(a)(1)(A), 7284.6.(a)(4)
chapter, the following terms have the following 14 This violates CA Gov. Code §7284.6.(a)(4).
meanings: (a) “California law enforcement agency” 15 This violates CA Gov. Code §7284.6.(a)(1)(F) (prohibits
means a state or local law enforcement agency, activities that includes transportation of detained indi-
including school police or security departments …”). viduals for the purpose of immigration enforcement) and
12 This violates CA Gov. Code §7284.12(4). §7284.6.(a)(4).

15
 LEXIPOL VS. SB 54
One Example from Lindsay Police Department’s Lexipol
Policy 428: “Immigration Violations”

SB 54 Lindsay PD Lexipol Policy Why Lindsay PD’s Lexipol Policy is Out

428 Issued Jan 4, 2018 of Compliance with SB54

7284.6 (a)(1): California law 428.4: “An officer may 1. The Lexipol policy violates SB 54
enforcement agencies shall not: detain an individual when because it does not include SB 54’s
(l) Use agency or department there are facts supporting language limiting officers to acting
moneys or personnel to a reasonable suspicion upon suspicion of a specific type
investigate, interrogate, detain, that the individual of illegal reentry violation only if it
detect, or arrest persons for entered into the U.S. comes up in the course of unrelated
immigration enforcement in violation of a federal law enforcement activities. Thus,
purposes... criminal law.” the Lexipol policy allows officers to
stop and detain individuals for the
7284.6 (b): Notwithstanding the sole purpose of investigating such
limitations in subdivision (a), immigration violations.
this section does not prevent
any California law enforcement 2. The Lexipol policy also does not
agency from […] include SB54’s language explaining
that the only federal criminal
(1) Investigating, enforcing, immigration violation that LEA
or detaining upon reasonable officers can detain an individual for
suspicion of, or arresting for a is 8 U.S.C. 1326(b)(2), which is illegal
violation of, Section 1326(a) reentry that occurs after a person has
of Title 8 of the United States previously been removed from the
Code that may be subject to U.S. subsequent to a conviction for
the enhancement specified in an aggravated felony (a term of art in
Section 1326(b)(2) of Title 8 of immigration law). The Lexipol policy
the United States Code and that therefore violates SB 54 by allowing
is detected during an unrelated LEA officers to detain individuals for
law enforcement activity. a wider range of suspected federal
criminal law violations than the narrow
situation allowed by the law.

16
3. Many LEAs that created their own policies • Providing ICE access to LEA databases24
did not include all of SB 54’s prohibitions, rather
only selectively included some of them • LEA officers conducting the activities of
immigration agents25
In their department-crafted policies, LEAs
frequently left out that SB 54 prohibits the • Conducting border patrolling activities26
following activities:
These omissions subject the LEA to liability
• Sharing detainee private personal information should its officers engage in SB 54 prohibited
with immigration authorities except when activity. Most significantly, SB 54 violations have
otherwise made public16 serious consequences for the immigrants whom
officers are interacting with. This can include
• Detaining people beyond their release date17 deportation-induced long-term separation from
families, loss of parental rights to children left
• Sharing release date information unless in the wake of a deportation, job loss, financial
under the exception in SB 5418 problems, and psychological trauma.

• Using ICE officers as interpreters19

23 LEAs use out of
• Placing LEA officers under federal agency date, pre-SB 54 Lexipol
supervision20
immigration enforcement
• Transferring individuals to ICE and CBP policies, or use post-SB 54
except under the conditions outlined in SB
5421
policies that nonetheless
include out of date
• Providing LEA space to ICE for their exclusive
use22
provisions and which omit
major new prohibitions.27
• Working in joint task forces with immigration
officials that primarily focus on immigration
enforcement23

24 Butte County Sheriff, Humboldt County Sheriff

16 Humboldt County Sheriff, Lassen County Sheriff, San 25 Butte Sheriff, Humboldt Sheriff’s Department, Lassen
Jose PD. County Sheriff
17 Los Angeles County Sheriff, San Jose PD. 26 Lassen County Sheriff
18 Humboldt County Sheriff, San Jose PD. 27 The police departments that are in this state of
19 Butte County Sheriff, Lassen County Sheriff, San Diego noncompliance with SB 54 are the following: Anaheim,
County Sheriff, San Jose PD. Arcata, Atherton, Avernal, Bishop, Campbell, Chula Vista,
20 Butte County Sheriff, Humboldt County Sheriff, San Daly City, Farmerville, Fountain Valley, Fremont, Gilroy,
Jose PD. Huntington Beach, Lindsay, Mountain View, National
21 Lindsay PD, San Jose PD. City, Santa Cruz, Sonora, and Woodlake. The Sheriff’s
22 Humboldt County Sheriff, San Jose PD. Departments are the Kings County, Lake County, Lassen
23 San Jose PD. County, Los Angeles County, and Tulare County.

17
4. Sheriff's Departments in 24 counties post jail space. Many LEAs decided to post release
release dates, times, and locations on jail information and court hearing information,
websites in addition to court hearing dates, times, including dates, times, and locations online so
and locations for individuals in their custody28 that ICE could go “independently” to those places
to arrest the individuals.
After SB 54 was signed into law, some LEAs
met with or communicated with ICE officers to For example, in January 2018, after SB 54 went
discuss how they could continue to work together into effect, in Marin County, Sheriff’s Department
despite SB 54’s restrictions on direct information management communicated directly with an ICE
sharing, custody transfers, and access to internal agent who had been working with the jails to notify
the agent that they would be placing on their
department website the following information:
28 As of January 27, 2019, Sheriff’s and Corrections
Departments that post release date and time information
Full name, [home] address at time of booking,
in advance of an individual’s release from jail included
the following: Alameda County Sheriff, Contra Costa occupation, arresting agency, physical descrip-
County Sheriff, Fresno County Sheriff, Kern County tion, date of birth, date and time of arrest, date
Sheriff, Kings County Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff, and time of booking, amount of bail, next court
Madera County Department of Corrections (separate
appearance date/time and place, all current
from the Sheriff and in charge of the jails), Marin County
Sheriff, Placer County Sheriff, Riverside County Sheriff, charges (including out of county warrants and
Sacramento County Sheriff, San Bernardino County probation/parole holds), and release date.29
Sheriff, San Diego County Sheriff, San Joaquin County
Sheriff, San Mateo County Sheriff, Santa Barbara County
Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle contended
Sheriff, Santa Cruz County Sheriff, Solano County Sheriff,
Stanislaus County Sheriff, Sutter County Sheriff, Tehama
that his department could then respond to all ICE
County Sheriff, Tulare County Sheriff, and Ventura County notification requests since their new practice of
Sheriff. Previously, the Orange County Sheriff posted posting release date information online triggered
release date information on the department’s “Who’s in the “publicly available” exception in SB 54.30 Marin
Jail?” public website but has stopped this practice and
County Sheriff’s management then communicated
posted a disclaimer on the site: “Due to security concerns,
we have discontinued posting detailed inmate information this development to department deputies and
on this website. Information required to be disclosed staff and reminded them that Marin County will
under Government Code section 6254(f)(1) of the allow ICE to make their arrests in the “booking area
California Public Records Act may be obtained in person
just like any other law enforcement agency.” With
at any Orange County Sheriff jail facility.” See Orange
county’s inmate information website at the following web all of this release information about individuals in
address: http://ws.ocsd.org/Whoisinjail/Search.aspx. the Marin Sheriff’s Department’s custody and this
Sheriff’s Departments that do not post inmate release access to the jail’s booking area, ICE agents were
information in advance of the release are the following:
reassured that immigration arrests could continue
Humboldt County Sheriff, Imperial County Sheriff, Inyo
County Sheriff, Lake County Sheriff, Mariposa County
unfettered despite limitations placed by SB 54.
Sheriff, Monterey County Sheriff, Nevada County Sheriff,
Orange County Sheriff* (see above), Plumas County
Sheriff, San Benito County Sheriff, San Francisco County 29 January 12, 2018 email obtained through Marin County
Sheriff, Sonoma County Sheriff, Trinity County Sheriff, Sheriff PRA response, document 18-331-46.pdf, 16.
and Tuolumne County Sheriff. The following Sheriff’s 30 Hamed Aleaziz, “Sanctuary Split: While SF jail snubs
Departments did not have functioning inmate information ICE, Marin County does the opposite,” San Francisco
websites at the time when research was conducted: Chronicle, May 25, 2018, available at: https://www.sf-
Modoc County Sheriff, Shasta County Sheriff, Siskiyou chronicle.com/bayarea/article/Sanctuary-split-While-
County Sheriff, and Yuba County Sheriff. SF-releases-no-inmates-to-12942494.php.

18
However, because it is evident that the Marin
County Sheriff only expended their resources to
post release date information online to engage
in immigration enforcement, their actions
may violate the general prohibition under SB
ICE ARRESTS
54 against using resources for immigration
enforcement.31 Moreover, the Marin County
Sheriff’s Department’s practice also violates SB 54
OF “RELEASED”
because the “publicly available” exception only
applies to SB 54’s prohibition on providing release
date information to ICE, it is not an exception
INDIVIDUALS
to SB 54’s prohibition on transfers to ICE. When
the Sheriff’s Department allows ICE access to
non-public areas of the jail to arrest individuals
IN THE FRESNO
for immigration enforcement purposes, it is
facilitating an in custody transfer to ICE. In fact,
in another county, the Kern County Sheriff’s
COUNTY JAIL
Department, an internal memo from a Lieutenant When arresting individuals who are
to Sheriff’s Department management expressed supposed to be released under SB 54 from
concern that allowing ICE access to non-public the Fresno County Jail, ICE officers first
areas of the jail to facilitate an immigration arrest check in at the front lobby with Fresno
qualifies as a transfer. The Lieutenant explained: Sheriff’s deputies. Deputies then proceed
to process individuals for release into
The current practice a corridor next to a release vestibule.
Entering the release vestibule requires
of processing an inmate securing weapons in a lock box, so ICE uses
as a release and allowing the release corridor outside the vestibule
where they do not have to secure their
ICE to take custody inside firearms. Access to the release corridor
the jail facility could, under requires going through a metal detector
and is next to the front desk where two
legal scrutiny, be deemed deputies provide security for the lobby. ICE
a transfer because there additionally parks their caged vehicle in
the red zone blocking the front lobby door.
is no functional break The Fresno Sheriff’s Department allows this
in custody.32 and has provided the ICE officers a special
parking placard for parking in this space.

See Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division

31 See CA Gov. Code 7284.6. (a) (1). Policies and Procedures No. C-185 “Immigration
32 Email from Kern County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Status,” section V.E.1.; see also December 26, 2017,
to Commander, October 17, 2017, provided through public Email from Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Russell
records request. Also see Fresno County Sheriff policy Duran titled “ICE Access Policy C-185.”
number C-185 “Immigration Status.”

19
In jurisdictions like Marin County, where LEAs
make parts of an individual’s home address - for
instance, the city name - available online, ICE
agents who are unable to go to the jail’s release
can also use the partial address information
SAN DIEGO
to conduct further research and attempt
an immigration enforcement arrest at the
individual’s home.
SHERIFF'S
When LEAs publicly post release date
information online and give ICE access to sally
DEPARTMENT'S
port areas and other areas internal to jail facilities
to make arrests of people who do not qualify
for pre-release custody transfers, the SB 54
M.O.U. WITH
screening process is not one that determines if
detainees will be turned over to ICE. Rather, such
screening is reduced to a procedure that merely
PRIVATE PRISON
determines where in the jail ICE will arrest a
detainee and whether the arrest will occur before
the release time or at the point of release.
CONTRACTOR
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department
Some LEAs have additionally provided ICE (SDSD) signed a Memorandum of
dedicated office space for their exclusive Understanding (MOU) with Core Civic,
use in or adjacent to LEA jail release areas to a private company that operates the
further facilitate their readiness and access to Otay Mesa Detention Facility for ICE. The
individuals at the time of release. For example, MOU sets up an arrangement where the
the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department Sheriff’s Department provides emergency
provides ICE exclusive use of space in their evacuation services and perimeter security
release corridor. The Kern County Sheriff’s reinforcements to this immigration
Directive on the TRUTH Act, originally issued detention facility. This includes
December 21, 2017 and later reissued in April transporting detainees with Sheriff’s
2018, allows ICE “work space where they can department vehicles and vans. In the case
conduct their duties.” of an “event, which threatens the security
of the facility,” SDSD may provide aerial
5. Some LEAs continue to serve ICE as backup surveillance and dispatch officers to patrol
security, ICE detainee escorts, and traffic the detention facility to prevent escape of
controllers detained immigrants.

SB 54 prohibits LEA officers from participating

in immigration enforcement activities in general See Memorandum of Understanding, March 26,
and provides a comprehensive list of common 2018, signed by San Diego Sheriff William Gore and
forms of LEA assistance in deportations that it Core Civic of Tennessee, LLC, Warden Fred Figueroa.

prohibits. However, some LEAs have interpreted

20
this to mean that as long as they do not conduct • Generally allowing LEA officers to assist
any of these stated activities such as patrolling ICE “at its specific request” (Chula Vista PD,
the border, or detaining and arresting individuals Fullerton PD)
on the basis of immigration violations, they can
still accompany ICE to immigration enforcement • Requiring officers provide “available
operations such as raids to provide routine support services, such as traffic control or
public safety services. LEA SB 54-related policies peacekeeping efforts, to ICE or other federal
have included the following: agencies.” (Lindsay PD)

• Calling on LEA officers or staff to assist These LEA-created exceptions to SB 54 violate

immigration authorities “in emergency” the general prohibition in SB 54 against LEAs
situations without qualifying what consists of engaging in immigration enforcement.
an emergency, what qualifies as assistance,
and what activities would not be permitted 6. Some LEAs continue to provide a wide range
in emergency situations. (Riverside County of information to ICE in violation of SB 54
Sheriff)
A number of LEAs are continuing to report
• Explicitly allowing LEA officers to “assist individuals in their custody and provide a wide
federal immigration authorities who are range of information to ICE in violation of SB 54.
actively engaged in immigration enforcement Examples include the following:
related activities” in emergency situations.
(Riverside County Sheriff)

21
 • Disclosing personal information about a
detainee to ICE once the individual has
been screened and found to meet the SB
54 criminal history requirements for sharing
release date information with ICE even
though criminal history is not an exception
to the prohibition under SB 54 for sharing
personal information (Butte County Sheriff’s
Department)

• Sharing release date information for people

who have merely been charged for violent
felonies and have not received a CA Penal
Code 872 probable cause determination
from a judge, even though SB 54 requires
such a judicial finding prior to sharing release
date information based on merely a charge
for certain offenses (Lake County Sheriff’s
Department)

The San Jose Police Department’s policy includes

language that their policy in no way restricts
• Requiring officers to proactively report to sharing with ICE “legitimate law enforcement
ICE information for people who have been information” rather than “immigration status
charged with drug crimes in California Health information” or information about an individual’s
and Safety Code 11369, a law that SB 54 criminal history. Such permissive, broad, and
repealed (San Jose Police Department) undefined policy language allows San Jose Police
to effectively share any information that officers
• Allowing, as a general practice, deputies to have with ICE.
provide ICE with detainee probation or parole
check-in dates and times (Fresno County Some LEAs also have policies directing their
Sheriff) officers to inform interested members of
the public that they may report immigration
• Treating release date information as “public violations to specific departments of ICE that
records” in general even if it is not publicly receive tips used to target individuals for arrest
posted, and then sharing release date and deportation. For instance, the Chula Vista
information on any detainees with ICE when Police Department’s “Immigration Violations,”
ICE makes a “public records request” for Lexipol Policy No. 428, states that, “Persons
the release date information, in violation wishing to report immigration violations
of SB 54’s limits on responses to ICE should be referred to the local office of the U.S.
notification requests (Lassen County Sheriff’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Department) The Employer Sanction Unit of ICE has primary

22
jurisdiction for enforcement of Title 8, United 54) and related I.C.E. Laws/regulations, then
States Code.”33 and only then, can the inmate be held for 48
hours (not counting weekends and holidays for
7. LEAs continue to detain people beyond release to an ICE agent).
their release date in response to ICE detainer
requests in violation of SB 54 Later in the same policy’s “Court Proceedings”
section, it states:
SB 54 prohibits LEAs from responding to any
ICE detainer requests. Thus, LEAs cannot hold “If the inmate has a “no bail” ICE hold due to
any individual for extra time for immigration current SB54 requirements only and the inmate
purposes. There is no exception to this bright is released own recognizance (OR) or bails out,
line rule, which protects LEAs from liability. the ICE hold will remain and ICE will be notified
A number of federal courts have found that immediately and have 48 hours to pick up. If
holding individuals for extra time in response to the inmate is not picked up within the 48 hours
an ICE detainer violates the Fourth Amendment he/she shall be released in accordance with
protections against unreasonable search and current release procedures.
seizure because these ICE requests are not
warrants signed by a judge or based on a The problem with this language is that SB 54,
probable cause finding.34 under no circumstance, allows LEAs to hold
individuals in local detention after their release
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s policies allow time.
their deputies to detain people in response to
an ICE detainer for up to 48 hours beyond their 8. Some LEA department policies allow for
release date if they qualify under SB 54’s criminal broad border patrolling activities to occur
history screening procedures to be transferred
to ICE. This practice is codified in their Adult San Diego Sheriff’s Department’s “Immigration
Detention Facility Procedure Manual “Booking, Laws: Enforcement” policy, which the Sheriff
Classification, Property, & Release” Chapter (2- promised to update in a December 2017 bulletin
05.12) which states: on SB 54, was still in effect in their manual in
April 2018 and allowed LEAs to conduct the
An inmate shall not be held in custody after the following activities that violate SB 54:
inmate has become “eligible for release” solely
on the basis of an immigration hold, except in • Requesting the assistance of the Border
compliance with the California Values Act (SB Patrol in routine LEA detentions.

• Allowing LEA officers to inquire about

33 See Chula Vista Police Department Policy 428, Section
3 “Procedures for Immigration Complaints.” See also
immigration status to determine if a felony
Marin County Sheriff’s Department policies. re-entry crime was committed under any
34 See Morales v. Chadbourne, 996 F. Supp. 2d 19 (D.R.I. circumstances.
2014) aff’d in part, dismissed in part, 793 F.3d 208,
215-216 (1st Cir. 2015); Miranda-Olivares v. Clackamas
• Allowing LEA officers to arrest individuals if
County, No. 3:12-cv-02317-ST, 2014 WL 1414305 (D.Or.
April 11, 2014); Vohra v. United States, 2010 U.S. Dist. they enter the country in his or her presence.
LEXIS 34363 (C.D. Cal. 2010).

23
 immigration laws and combat illegal trafficking.”4

OPERATION The program uses LEAs as a “force-multiplier”5

for CBP, turning them into an arm of border
patrol. The MOU states that the LEAs aim to

STONEGARDEN: “enhance enforcement by increasing patrol

presence in proximity to the border and/or
routes of ingress from the border, including the

A CASE STUDY water borders.”6

The MOU also states that LEA agencies are

IN LEA BORDER focused on enforcing only local and state

laws, and not on enforcing or aiding in the
enforcement of immigration laws on behalf

POLICING of CBP. However, various CBP public relations

news releases indicate that many of the
operations conducted in the past by Operation
LEAs throughout California have signed MOUs Stonegarden in California have led only to the
to police their respective regions of the U.S. apprehension of individuals entering the country
border in coordination with other Operation illegally with no smugglers identified.7 CBP
Stonegarden partner agencies in order to press releases about Operation Stonegarden
“support the U.S. Department of Homeland activities in other participating states describe
Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs and Border instances when smuggling was not even a factor
Protection (CBP) efforts in the region to improve or consideration in arrests by local LEAs. These
border security.”1 According to DHS, the goals of releases in some cases describe LEAs aerially
Operation Stonegarden, a program “managed identifying groups of individuals attempting to
by the Border Patrol”2 are to “increase our illegally cross the U.S. border with Mexico, and
presence along the borders”3 and “enhance
the Department’s capabilities to coordinate
4 Office of the Press Secretary of the Department of
with state, local and tribal law enforcement Homeland Security, “Secretary Napolitano Announces
in order to effectively deter violence, enforce Additional $30 Million in Operation Stonegarden
Funds to Secure the Southwest Border.” August 11,
2009.
1 Agreement for the Fiscal Year 2017 Operation 5 Press Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
StoneGarden (OPSG) Grant, Section 4.2 “Overview of “Smuggling Attempt Thwarted on California Coast.”
Basic Services,” 3 (MOU covers the period September July 19, 2010.
1, 2017-May 31, 2020 as per section 2.5 of the MOU), 6 Agreement for the Fiscal Year 2017 Operation
available at: https://santabarbara.legistar.com/View. StoneGarden (OPSG) Grant, sub-section 6.1.1 within
ashx?M=F&ID=6307090&GUID=486B403A-76A6- the section “Standards of Service: Obligations of the
405D-B227-90E89A93FE40 Parties; Anticipated Outcomes Basic Services,” 3.
2 Press Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 7 See “Smuggling Attempt Thwarted on California
“Operation Stonegarden Partnership Leads to Arrest Coast,” Press Office of the US. Customs and Border
of Dangerous Fugitive.” March 8, 2019. Protection, July 19, 2010. See also “Integrated
3 Office of the Press Secretary of the Department of Border Security Approach Results in Foiled Maritime
Homeland Security, “Secretary Napolitano Announces Smuggling Attempt at Carlsbad State Beach.” Press
$60 Million in Operation Stonegarden Grants for Office of the US. Customs and Border Protection,
Border States.” June 3, 2009. October 15, 2010.
24
working with CBP to make arrests on the basis RECOMMENDATIONS
of immigration violations alone.8
To ensure full compliance with SB 54 and to build
LEAs receive funding from DHS to participate on these protections by further disentangling LEAs
in Operation Stonegarden, and the San Diego from immigration detentions and deportations, this
County Sheriff manages the fund dispersal report recommends that the California legislature,
to participating LEAs.9 When preparing for the Governor, and the Attorney General take the
Operation Stonegarden missions, LEAs following actions:
draft mission plans that are shared with CBP
officers,10 and at the end of each day of a 1. Discontinue information sharing with ICE
mission, daily reports are written by LEA
officers and sent to CBP.11 Additionally, source Although SB 54 places limits on LEAs sharing
documents cited in the daily reports, such as release date information and personal information,
arrest reports, citations, and field interviews such as work and home addresses, with ICE or CBP,
are shared following the end of a mission.12 this report has found that a number of LEAs are
exploiting exceptions in the law and in some cases,
LEAs involved in Operation Stonegarden violating the law. The following recommendations
include the following Sheriff’s Departments: would close these loopholes and create a bright
San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, line rule prohibiting LEAs from sharing information
San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, with immigration authorities.
and Ventura. The following Police Departments
and state agencies also are involved: City
Police of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado,
The following
Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, recommendations would
and San Diego; the San Diego Unified Port
District Police (San Diego Harbor Police); the
close these loopholes and
University of California-San Diego Police; create a bright line rule
the San Diego Probation Department; the
California Highway patrol; and the California
prohibiting LEAs from
Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and sharing information with
Recreation.13
immigration authorities.
8 See Press Office of the Customs and Border
Protection, September 27, 2018 Press Release, 1a. Remove the exception in SB 54 that allows
“Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Assists Border Patrol in LEAs to share release information and other
Operation Stonegarden,” available at: https://www.
related information with ICE when it is available
cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/pinal-county-
sheriff-s-office-assists-border-patrol-operation
to the public or when it is based on criminal
9 See Agreement for the Fiscal Year 2017 Operation history in CA Gov. Code §7284.6 (a)(1)(C).
StoneGarden (OPSG) Grant, Section 7.3 “Method of
Payment,” 6. 1b. Remove the exception in SB 54 that allows
10 See id., section 6.1.3.
for LEAs to share “personal information” with ICE
11 See id.,section 6.1.4.
12 See id., section 6.1.5. if this information is available to the public. In
13 See id., section 1.
25
particular, remove the following language from in immigration enforcement, this creates more
§7284.6. (a)(1)(D): “unless that information is fear and distrust in immigrant communities. This
available to the public.” report recommends California immediately end
all LEA transfers to ICE.
1c. Prohibit LEAs from providing information
obtained from local and state criminal databases
to ICE.
LEA entanglement with
immigration enforcement is
1d. Issue guidance from the California Attorney
General clarifying that under SB 54, LEAs are
simply not effective crime
prohibited from directing members of the public fighting. To the contrary,
to report immigration violations to ICE or CBP, or
providing ICE’s contact information to members
when LEAs engage in
of the public so that they may make such reports immigration enforcement,
that can lead to immigration enforcement activity.
this creates more fear
2. End LEA custody transfers to immigration and distrust in immigrant
authorities and prohibit LEAs from allowing ICE
to enter non-public areas of jail facilities
communities.

Studies have shown that LEAs detaining and 2a. End transfers from LEAs to ICE by removing
transferring people in their jails to ICE for language in SB 54 that allows for transfers based
deportation purposes has not led to a decrease on conviction history or whether a judge issues
in crime.35 LEA entanglement with immigration a probable cause determination pertaining to
enforcement is simply not effective crime certain criminal charges prior to a conviction.
fighting. To the contrary, when LEAs engage See CA Gov. Code § 7284.6. (a)(4).

2b. Prohibit LEAs from allowing ICE to enter non-

35 See Thomas Miles and Adam Cox, “Does Immigration
Enforcement Reduce Crime? Evidence from Secure public areas on LEA property.
Communities.” Journal of Law and Economics, 2014,
available at: https://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/file/ 2c. Require LEAs to document and report
does_immigration_enforcement_reduce_crime_082514.
annually to the California Attorney General all ICE
pdf; Tom Wong, Center for American Progress,
“The Effects of Sanctuary Policies on Crime and arrests made on LEA property of detainees who
the Economy,” Jan. 26, 2017, available at: https:// were “released” to the public in addition to those
www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/ officially transferred to ICE custody.
reports/2017/01/26/297366/the-effects-of-sanctuary-
policies-on-crime-and-the-economy/ (Finding there are,
on average, 35.5 fewer crimes committed per 10,000
3. Prohibit LEA involvement in joint law
people in sanctuary counties compared to nonsanctuary enforcement task forces that involve
counties); Nik Theodore, Department of Urban Planning immigration enforcement as a purpose, activity,
and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, “Insecure threat, or consequence
Communities: Latino Perceptions of Police Involvement
in Immigration Enforcement,” May 2013, available at
https://www.policylink.org/sites/default/files/INSECURE_ SB 54’s existing language pertaining to joint
COMMUNITIES_REPORT_FINAL.PDF task forces with federal immigration authorities

26
allows LEA officers to participate in joint task immigration enforcement as a consequence of
forces when the “primary purpose of the joint the operation.”
law enforcement task force is not enforcing
immigration law.” See CA Gov. Code § 7284.6 (b) 4. Prohibit LEAs from providing any jail facility
(3)(A). However, there is no clear qualification space for use by ICE or CBP
for what makes a task force primarily focused on
immigration enforcement. For example, ICE has Some LEAs have been exploiting SB 54’s
come under criticism for telling LEAs that they are allowance for ICE office space in LEA facilities that
engaging in a criminal enforcement joint taskforce is not for their exclusive use. LEAs have continued
operation when in fact most or all of the arrests to station ICE officers in offices close to or in
that result are for immigration violations.36 release areas of their jails to facilitate their access
to released individuals. This report recommends
3a. Modify § 7284.6 (b)(3)(A) to state “LEAs California taking the following action:
may not enter into joint law enforcement task
forces that have immigration enforcement or 4a. Prohibit LEAs from making any work space,
border policing as a purpose of its operations, offices, physical assets in their facilities, or
that undertake any immigration enforcement IT infrastructure available for use by federal
activities, employ threats of executing immigration authorities for any period of time
immigration enforcement activities, or result in and any frequency whether temporary or
permanent.

36 See Hamed Aleaziz, “Santa Cruz leaders slam feds over 4b. Remove the SB 54 allowance for ICE to
immigration detentions during gang operation, San
use LEA facility work space by removing
Francisco Chronicle,” February 23, 2017, available at
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Santa-Cruz- the following language from § 7284.6 (a)(5):
leaders-slam-feds-over-immigration-10955358.php. “exclusively dedicated.”

27
5. Prohibit all forms of LEA border policing 6a. Enforce SB54’s existing prohibitions on
LEA participation in immigration enforcement
LEAs in California have continued to patrol activities, including LEAs providing peace-
borders in conjunction with CBP under the keeping or public safety services, such as
auspices of criminal law enforcement. However, traffic control, and backup to ICE and CBP
such border policing has served immigration for immigration raids and other immigration
enforcement efforts by turning LEA patrol enforcement activities.
officers into de facto border guards. This report
recommends the following: 7. Extend all SB 54 protections to state prisons

5a. End all LEA border policing by deleting SB 54 broadly regulates local and state law
§7284.6(b)(1). This carveout in SB 54, which enforcement cooperation in immigration
is confusing and complicated, has been enforcement efforts; however, it only minimally
misinterpreted by most LEAs to allow LEA intervenes in the practices of state prisons.
officers to investigate more illegal reentry crimes SB 54 requires the California Department of
that SB 54 allows. Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), which
operates state prisons to adhere to written
5b. Enforce SB 54’s provisions prohibiting LEAs consent procedures prior to ICE interviews
from participating in border policing operations of incarcerated individuals. However, CDCR
such as Operation Stonegarden, where LEAs, continues to funnel individuals in their custody
under the umbrella of policing border crimes, into immigration detention and deportation
undertake activities in consultation with federal providing release date information to ICE and
authorities, report back to federal authorities facilitating transfers to ICE custody. This is
on the activities, and which ultimately lead to especially concerning as individuals who are
the prosecution of individuals for immigration released from state prison have served their
violations. prison sentence or earned parole through a
rigorous review process by the Board of Parole
6. Prohibit LEAs from providing backup Hearings and the Governor’s Office. For these
services to immigration authorities during individuals to be released into ICE custody
federal immigration enforcement operations subjects these individuals to double punishment
and does not allow them an opportunity to be
This report has found that LEAs continue to reunified with their communities and families.
participate in immigration enforcement by This report recommends that California take the
providing emergency backup support and following action:
routine police services, such as traffic control,
to ICE or CBP. These services ultimately aid 7a. Remove the exception for CDCR in the
in the enforcement of immigration laws and definition of “California law enforcement agency”
should be considered as part of LEA immigration so that all of SB 54 also applies to CDCR. See CA
enforcement activities. This report recommends Gov. Code § 7284.4 (a).
the following:

28
8. Ensure compliance with SB 54 through
investigating violations and imposing financial CONCLUSION
penalties
The California Values Act is one of the most
The California Attorney General plays a crucial expansive sanctuary laws in the country. As a
role in ensuring that LEAs comply with the result of implementation of this new law, there
intent and the letter of SB 54. The following has been a notable drop in LEA-assisted ICE
recommendations are steps the Attorney General and CBP arrests in the state, especially when
can take to increase compliance with this key compared to anti-sanctuary states such as Texas.
immigrant rights law: However, there is much work to be done by the
State to bring LEAs into full compliance with SB
8a. The California Attorney General should use 54 and to ensure that the law is not undermined
this report to reach out to specific LEAs to notify through the exploitation of its policy exceptions.
them of their need to modify their policies to At a time when the federal administration has
bring them into compliance with SB 54. been hostile to immigrant communities and has
ramped up immigration arrests, detentions, and
8b. The California Attorney General also should deportations, it is imperative that Californians
establish a clear and accessible process for are confident that their local, county, and state
receiving and reviewing complaints of violations government will not work to deport them,
of SB 54 from the public. All findings from these their family members, friends, co-workers, and
investigations, including evidentiary data and neighbors.
disciplinary or corrective action taken, should be
made available to the public.
California must continue
8c. SB 54 should be amended to allow the to lead the country in
Attorney General to levy fines for LEAs that
violate provisions of SB 54.
welcoming and protecting
immigrants by ensuring
full compliance with SB
54 and adopting stronger
protections that create
bright line separation
between local and state
law enforcement and
immigration enforcement.

29
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ANALYZED IN THIS REPORT
Police Departments Sheriff’s
Departments
Alameda Fortuna Pacifica
Anaheim Fountain Valley Palm Desert Alameda County
Anderson Fremont Port Hueneme Butte County
Angels Camp Fullerton Redding Contra Costa County
Antioch Gardena Reedley Fresno County
Arcata Gilroy Rialto Humboldt County
Arroyo Grande Glendale Richmond Imperial County
Arvin Gonzales Ridgecrest Inyo County
Atascadero Grassville Rio Vista Kern County
Atherton Gustine City Ross Kings County
Atwater Hawthorne Sacramento Lake County
Avenal Hayward San Bernardino Los Angeles County
Bakersfield Hemet San Diego Madera County
Banning Huntington Beach San Francisco Marin County
Barstow Jackson San Gabriel Mariposa County
Beaumont Kingsburg San Ramon Merced County
Belmont La Mesa Sand City Modoc County
Bishop La Palma Sanger Monterey County
Brisbane Lake Shastina Santa Cruz Nevada County
California City Lincoln Santa Maria Orange County
Calistoga Lindsay Santa Paula Placer County
Campbell Livingston Sausalito Plumas County
Carlsbad Long Beach Seaside Riverside County
Chula Vista Los Alamitos Selma Sacramento County
Citrus Heights Los Gatos Simi Valley San Benito County
Cloverfield Marina Sonora San Bernardino County
Coalinga Mendota South San Francisco San Diego County
Concord Mill Valley Suisun San Francisco County
Coronado Monrovia Thousand Oaks San Joaquin County
Cypress Morgan Hill Tiburon San Mateo County
Daly City Mountain View Tulare Santa Barbara County
Del Rey Oaks Mount Shasta Turlock Santa Cruz County
Delano Napa County Walnut Creek Shasta County
Desert Hot Springs National City Woodlake Siskiyou County
Dublin Nevada City Yreka Solano County
El Cerrito Novato Yuba Sonoma County
El Monte Oakland Stanislaus County
Emeryville Oakley Sutter County
Escondido Oceanside Tehama County
Fairfield Ojai Trinity County
Farmersville Orange Tulare County
Ferndale Orland Tuolumne County
Ventura County

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San Francisco, CA 94111
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