Bill Proposed to End California’s Sanctuary Law After Church Shooting

Bill Proposed to End California’s Sanctuary Law After Church Shooting
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent stands in Hawthorne, Calif., on March 1, 2020. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
Vanessa Serna
3/24/2022
Updated:
4/19/2022

After a recent shooting spree rocked Sacramento as an undocumented immigrant opened fire on his three daughters and their chaperone in a church, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) announced a proposal to repeal California’s Sanctuary State Law.

“The impacts of this law have been devastating and tragic,” Kiley told The Epoch Times.

Kiley introduced Assembly Bill 1708 on March 21 following the tragedy of 39-year-old David Mora killing his daughters before pulling the trigger on himself on Feb. 28.

The sanctuary law, Senate Bill 54, was passed in 2017 to make California a sanctuary state and prevent law enforcement’s ability to contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the release of undocumented immigrants from jail.

A week before the shooting, Mora was arrested for assaulting a police officer, according to Kiley. However, the sanctuary law prevented local law enforcement officers from informing ICE, a federal agency, about the illegal immigrant’s release date for deportation.

Kiley blames the enforced law for the death of Mora’s three daughters which he said would have otherwise been prevented.

“This unspeakable tragedy was avoidable,” Kiley wrote on Twitter on March 5, urging lawmakers to end the Sanctuary Law immediately.

Senate Bill 54 was intended to protect only criminals, Kiley said. He further called for bipartisan support to protect the public safety of all Californians.

The bill to repeal the Sanctuary State Law will likely be heard this spring.