By Shari Rendall | FAIR Take | December 2019

During the 2019 legislative session, California continued to pass many new laws to “normalize” illegal aliens and give them expanded rights and protections. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed these measures that were vetoed by his predecessor, former Governor Jerry Brown (D), for being too extreme.

Senate Bill 225 allows illegal aliens to hold any “appointed civil office” and to “receive any form of compensation that the person is not otherwise prohibited from receiving pursuant to federal law.” A nearly identical bill was vetoed last year by former Gov. Brown.



Assembly Bill 668 attempts to lock Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of state courthouses. This legislation was also previously vetoed by Gov. Brown.



Senate Bill 104 expands the health benefits to illegal aliens by making aliens aged 19-25 eligible for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. Illegal aliens 18-years old and younger were already eligible.



Assembly Bill 1645 requires the California Community Colleges and the California State University to designate a Dreamer Resource Liaison on each of their respective campuses to help illegal alien and other immigrant students obtain financial aid and other resources such as social and legal services.



Assembly Bill 32 bans private prisons, the majority which contract with ICE to hold illegal aliens while their cases go through immigration court.



Assembly Bill 1747 restricts the use of the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) for immigration enforcement.

President Trump has noted that “in California … [t]hey don’t treat their people as well as they treat illegal immigrants.” Former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan condemned the Golden State for “effectively making the absurd claim that it has the power to ignore federal law.” He added “California lawmakers would do well to remember that California is part of the United States. Unless the state secedes and becomes an independent nation, it has to obey the same laws as the rest of our country.”