In an escalating conflict between state and federal authority, California law enforcement officers are facing potential felony charges and loss of pensions if they assist federal immigration authorities, according to El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells.
The situation highlights growing tensions between California’s sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Wells took to social media to voice concerns about what he describes as an “impossible position” for police officers in his jurisdiction, located just 30 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Despite El Cajon not being a sanctuary city, Wells claims state law threatens severe consequences for officers who cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“The State of California is threatening to take pensions and charge police officers with felonies if they comply with federal deportation laws,” Wells stated in a social media post.
“Our officers are being put in an impossible position. If they comply with federal immigration authorities, they risk felony charges and losing their hard-earned pensions.”
The controversy centers around California’s Senate Bill 54 (SB-54), which restricts state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to assist in immigration enforcement.
The law prohibits personnel from investigating, interrogating, detaining, detecting or arresting individuals for immigration enforcement purposes, with some exceptions.
When challenged about the constitutional implications of this stance, specifically regarding the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution which establishes federal law’s precedence over state law, Wells acknowledged the legal complexity but emphasized the practical dilemma facing individual officers.
“I’m aware but it’s the individual police officers caught in the middle. I’m just pointing out the problem,” Wells responded to critics online.
The situation has attracted attention from federal officials, including incoming Border Czar Tom Homan, who referenced similar tensions with another jurisdiction.
Homan stated regarding a separate but related situation, “Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: He’s willing to go to jail. I’m willing to put him in jail.”
Legal experts and X users note that federal law makes it a felony to knowingly conceal or harbor individuals who are in the country illegally from immigration authorities.
It’s also a felony to impede federal law enforcement officers in their duties.
This creates a complex legal environment where officers could potentially face criminal charges regardless of which authority they choose to obey.
Mayor Wells has pledged to “do everything in my power to protect our officers and stand against these dangerous policies.”
The city’s proximity to the Mexican border makes this conflict particularly relevant for El Cajon law enforcement, who regularly encounter immigration-related situations in their daily duties.
This standoff between state and federal authorities continues to evolve, leaving local law enforcement officers in California navigating an increasingly complex legal landscape where following one set of laws could mean violating another.
The post ‘Impossible Position’: Cops Could Face Felonies and Lost Pensions if They Comply With Fed Deportation Efforts, California Mayor Warns appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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