Politico reported in an exclusive that Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to veto a Democrat-led bill restricting state prison officials’ cooperation with federal immigration authorities, just as former President Donald Trump ramps up deportation efforts.

Newsom argues that California’s “sanctuary” law strikes a balance between fostering trust with immigrant communities and allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport serious offenders. He vetoed a similar bill last year, saying it would excessively limit how the state’s prison system interacts with federal authorities on public safety matters.

A spokesperson confirmed Newsom’s intent to reject Assembly Bill 15, referring to his prior veto message. The bill, authored by Asm. Mike Gipson, seeks to extend SB 54’s protections to state prisons, barring officials from notifying ICE about release dates, detaining individuals for transfer, or sharing inmate information. Former Gov. Jerry Brown had intentionally excluded prisons from the original law.

Newsom supports limited cooperation with ICE for violent offenders but believes expanding SB 54 could provoke another legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department. His early opposition follows Trump administration actions against states with pro-immigrant policies.

While Newsom has focused on wildfire recovery, he recently allocated $50 million for legal aid to undocumented residents. State Attorney General Rob Bonta has led efforts to clarify law enforcement’s obligations under SB 54. Since 2019, California has transferred nearly 10,600 inmates to ICE under existing provisions.

Debate over SB 54 continues, with liberal cities seeking expansion and others distancing themselves from the “sanctuary” label.

Read more at Politico.