A spokesperson from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded to California’s enactment of Assembly Bill 2792 (AB 2792), calling the new state law dangerous and an impediment to the enforcement of federal law. AB 2792 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown (D) in September.
AB 2792 allows criminal aliens in law enforcement custody to refuse any interview with federal immigration. By giving criminal aliens the ability to opt out of a meeting with ICE, AB 2792 essentially allows even the most dangerous criminal aliens to be released back into California communities after their sentences are served.
“ICE is deeply concerned this new law will impede the agency’s efforts to identify and ultimately deport individuals deemed to be a danger,” according to an agency spokesperson. “The agency remains staunchly committed to using every resource and tool at its disposal to promote public safety, [and]we believe this law will hamper that mission.”
Prior to AB 2792’s enactment, California law already required state and local law enforcement officials to refuse cooperation with ICE in almost all cases, unless the criminal alien has been convicted of a serious or violent crime. AB 2792 allows deportable aliens to choose whether ICE has access to law enforcement facilities at all and allows all criminal aliens, even violent offenders, the ability avoid immigration enforcement.
“Conducting in-person interviews with incarcerated foreign nationals aids in ICE’s efforts to obtain accurate information from these individuals and make appropriate decisions about future enforcement actions,” the agency spokesperson said.