Community advocates Sanctuary State protections despite council’s refusal to discuss

A new Senate Bill was passed by the State Assembly giving some protections to undocumented Californians. Senate Bill 54 comes on the heels of protests calling for Chico to become a sanctuary city.

In March, a protest in downtown Chico was organized by Shelby Chase in reaction to the city council’s rejection of a 4 to 3 vote to putting the sanctuary city on the agenda. Chico will not be a sanctuary city but Chase said, “It actually feels really good knowing California is on its way to becoming a sanctuary state.”

“My question for the people that are going ‘hey I have a right to education and liberty,’ is where are you on the roadmap to citizenship?” said Chico Mayor Sean Morgan. “There is a way to get here legally. Plenty of people have done it. It’s not smooth. I would say the process is broken and I understand people’s frustration.”

Protestors at Chico City Plaza, protesting council's decision in early March. Photo credit: Nicholas Feeley

“In Chico, I’m not even sure ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) knows we’re here, and they’re not going around and circling people up and deporting them in mass,” Morgan said. “It’s not happening. It’s certainly not gonna happen here and our police officers have better things to do.”

Mayor Sean Morgan sitting in his office at Chico State where he is a lecturer. Photo credit: Nicholas Feeley

Chico Mayor Sean Morgan voted against talking about Chico becoming a sanctuary city on the council’s agenda and does not believe that the legislation is the best road to take to address undocumented immigration.

“My question for the people that are going ‘hey I have a right to education and liberty,’ is where are you on the roadmap to citizenship?” Morgan said. “There is a way to get here legally. Plenty of people have done it, it’s not smooth. I would say the process is broken and I understand people’s frustration, but that is how you fix it.”

Here are four of the most relevant effects of the senate bill 54. The bill was originally introduced by state Senator Kevin De León.

1. Prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from investigating, interrogating, detaining, looking into a persons’ immigration status or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes.

2. Will not transfer an individual to federal immigration authorities for purposes of immigration enforcement or detain an individual at the request of federal immigration authorities for purposes of immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.

3. Will not protect undocumented individuals who are criminals. Warrants signed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, are not criminal warrants. Federal warrants which are criminal warrants signed by a federal judge will still be complied.

4. Also applies to the university police. Undocumented students will have access to schools, health facilities and courthouses despite their immigration status.

Infographic depicts four important effects of the sanctuary city legislation for Chico to know. Image created with Piktochart. Photo credit: Nicholas Feeley

Morgan said he thinks that undocumented immigration is a matter of criminality.

“The irony is the people that don’t really need protection are the people coming and saying make this a sanctuary city. They were never in any danger anyway, but what they are asking is for us to protect the criminals and I don’t believe in that,” Morgan said.

Chase thinks Chico’s council was one of the least willing in the area to talk about the possibility of becoming a sanctuary city.

“Not only does it eliminate a lot of issues for immigrants but it also educates the city council because we have actually talked to more than just the Chico City Council,” Chase said.

“It just happens that the Chico City Council was the least progressive,” he said.

Nicholas Feeley can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.