Dean Johnson Comments for Media on Governor Brown and ‘Sanctuary State’ Proposal

Dean Kevin R. Johnson was interviewed by CALmatters regarding California Governor Jerry Brown’s position on Senate Bill 54, which would make California a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants. The article also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and other news sources.

In the past, Brown has voiced opposition to “sanctuary city” declarations, but his position may have been affected by the words and actions of the Trump administration, Johnson said. “The harshness of the rhetoric, the rigor and aggressiveness of the policies, and the refusal to compromise in the least is something that made the Trump administration very different from any president in recent memory.”

“The governor is going to look carefully to ensure that state and local law enforcement officers policy decisions are respected while understanding also that federal immigration law should be enforced against serious criminals,” Johnson said. “There have been enough revisions to quell concerns about providing undue protections to persons convicted of crimes, and it seems he’s likely to sign this bill.”

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.

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