Immigrant rights groups in California say Governor Jerry Brown is turning his back on immigrant communities.
Brown vetoed the so-called Trust Act. It would have stopped local police from cooperating with federal authorities to detain suspected illegal immigrants, unless they are charged with a serious or violent felony.
Reshma Shamasunder with the California Immigrant Policy Center says that federal policy has resulted in 80-thousand deportations.
“Continuing this of people who have not been charged or convicted of a serious crime or felony just doesn’t make any sense, we’re separating families, we’re hurting communities, we’re causing immigrants to be afraid to report crimes that they may have witnessed.”
The Governor’s veto message said the bill would have protected illegal immigrants involved in such crimes as drug trafficking, selling weapons and child abuse.
Brown also vetoed legislation that would have criminalized farmers who don’t provide enough shade and water to farm workers, and a bill that would have mandated overtime pay for domestic workers.
The governor however did sign a bill that would allow some young illegal immigrants who came to the county as minors to receive driver’s licenses. The bill applies to those who qualify for the President’s new federal work permit program.