California Kills Bill That Would Strip Fentanyl-Dealing Illegal Immigrants of Sanctuary State Protections

Current state law prohibits law enforcement agencies from investigating, interrogating, detecting, or arresting people for immigration enforcement purposes.

Heroin and fentanyl pressed into pill form. Courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

State Democrats on Tuesday voted down legislation that would have amended California’s sanctuary law to allow the deportation of fentanyl-dealing illegal immigrants.

The proposed bill, dubbed AB2209, was introduced by assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, a Republican, in February. It aimed to deny sanctuary state protections to illegal immigrants convicted of fentanyl charges.