California Lawmakers Block Bill That Would End Sanctuary State Protections for Illegal Immigrant Pedophiles

‘They don’t want to admit that their sanctuary state policy has been a failure,’ the bill’s author says.

California state Assemblyman Bill Essayli speaks at a press conference outside the Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 14, 2023. Courtesy of California Family Council

Democratic lawmakers in the California Assembly voted down May 21 a bill that would require law enforcement officials to cooperate with immigration authorities when illegal immigrants are convicted of sexually abusing or exploiting minors.

At issue is Assembly Bill 2641—authored by Assemblyman Bill Essayli—which would have ordered law enforcement agencies to provide information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) related to such offenders’ release dates. It would have also required transferring such individuals to federal immigration authorities on request, and to detain those on holds if the person is a registered sex offender.