The proposals would bar federal agents from using state property and require state investigations of shootings.
CALIFORNIA, USA — As immigration operations continue across the country, a California Democratic lawmaker says the state needs to act to protect immigrant communities and prevent further violence.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) announced plans to introduce two bills aimed at limiting federal immigration enforcement activity in California and increasing oversight when violence occurs. He said the proposals are meant to push back against what he described as federal overreach and to safeguard residents’ constitutional rights.
The announcement comes just days after another Minnesota resident was killed, an incident Gabriel referenced as part of his push for legislative action.
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One of the bills would ban federal agents from using state resources, including state-owned property, during immigration enforcement operations. Gabriel said the measure is designed to prevent California from being involved in actions he believes are destabilizing communities.
“They can’t use state parking lots to stage for raids. It means that they can’t force us to be complicit in their actions, which are inciting chaos, which are inciting violence, which are terrorizing our communities,” Gabriel said.
Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Ripon) criticized that approach, warning it could interfere with communication and cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
“Anything that we prohibit law enforcement from communicating with each other, I think is a problem,” Flora said. He added that he would not be supportive of restricting federal agents from using state property.
Legislative analyst Chris Micheli said the proposal involving state property could face legal scrutiny.
“That’s likely to withstand a court challenge because the state should be able to determine who can and cannot use their facilities,” Micheli said, adding that federal agents could be banned from conducting immigration operations on state-owned property.
Gabriel’s second bill would require an independent state investigation whenever a shooting involves federal immigration agents. He said recent events show the need for outside oversight.
“Almost immediately after this horrific killing that we just had in Minnesota that the administration started to make excuses,” Gabriel said, criticizing the use of language such as “domestic terrorists” and arguing that federal agencies cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.
Gabriel acknowledged that enforcing state rules on the federal government could be difficult, but said California should ensure its resources are not used to support an agenda he opposes.
Flora said he agrees with involving state investigators in federal cases and believes additional oversight could be helpful.
“The more eyes we have on investigation… investigations are exactly that. They’re an investigation to figure out the truth,” Flora said.
Gabriel said the bills have not yet been formally introduced but are expected to be brought forward soon.
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