Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Tuesday co-authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, aimed at restricting the use of state property for federal immigration enforcement and requiring state investigations of fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by immigration officers.
Assembly Bills 1806 and 1807 were among several immigration-related measures signed Tuesday by Newsom.
AB 1806 requires the California Attorney General’s Office to conduct an independent investigation into fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by immigration officers, according to Gabriel’s office.
The measure builds on a state law enacted in 2020 requiring the Attorney General’s Office to investigate fatal police shootings of unarmed civilians. Under AB 1806, if an investigation finds that an immigration officer violated state law, the state prosecutor is authorized to prosecute the case, and the findings must be made public in a written report.
AB 1807, also co-authored by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, D-Palmdale, prohibits state-owned property, including parking lots, vacant lots and garages, from being used to stage, process, detain or otherwise support federal immigration enforcement operations.
The measure also requires state agencies to identify properties that could be used for such operations, post signs, limit access and develop procedures intended to prevent unauthorized federal immigration enforcement activity on state property.
“California must continue to push back against the Trump Administration to protect our immigrant communities and our constitutional rights,” Gabriel said in a statement.
“I’m proud that AB 1807 will prohibit federal immigration agents from using state property for immigration enforcement, while AB 1806 will require an independent, transparent, and thorough state investigation when an immigration officer fatally shoots an unarmed civilian. Together, these new laws will strengthen the rule of law and protect the people who call our state home.”
Gabriel’s office said the legislation was developed in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and elsewhere around the country.
“As the author of the landmark legislation that created independent investigations into police shootings (AB 1506, 2020), I applaud Assemblymember Gabriel and Governor Newsom for expanding this important accountability measure to include actions by immigration officers through AB 1806,” Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said in a statement.
Carrillo said AB 1807 was intended to prevent federal agents from using state resources to conduct immigration enforcement operations.
“What we are seeing throughout our nation is a result of an administration that has normalized fear, intimidation, and use of force in our communities. That is why I’m proud to stand alongside Assemblymember Gabriel to ensure federal agents do not continue to terrorize immigrant communities and American citizens in our state,” Carrillo said.
AB 1806 and AB 1807 were sponsored by the California Immigrant Policy Center and supported by a coalition of labor, immigrant-rights, legal-aid, civil-rights and faith organizations, according to Gabriel’s office.