Dean Johnson Comments for Media on Immigration Sanctuary Laws

Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented for media including National Public Radio affiliate KQED's syndicated program The California Report, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Monterey Herald on the case of a murder allegedly committed by an undocumented immigrant who had been released from custody by San Francisco police.  Dean Johnson explained the background and purpose of the sanctuary laws such as the one in San Francisco that govern the circumstances under which local police may detain noncitizens on behalf of immigration authorities.

"San Francisco, like Los Angeles and New York City, has a fairly significant immigrant population, and the fear is that if the immigrants think that the local police are going to help you get deported, then you're going to be less likely as an immigrant to cooperate as a witness, as a reporter of crimes or otherwise work with police," said Dean Johnson in an interview on the California Report. "San Francisco has a relatively restrictive ordinance that allows the detention of noncitizens who are arrested only if state law requires it or if there is an arrest warrant that is provided to the sheriff."

In the same interview, Dean Johnson said he hoped the "tragic event" in San Francisco would bring about a national discussion of comprehensive immigration reform. "We need some national discussion of immigration, immigration reform, and criminal law enforcement, and we have to come up with a better way than we currently have of enforcing our laws and making people, at the same time, feel safe in their communities."

Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.

The California Report

San Francisco Chronicle

Monterey Herald

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