California AG Will Prosecute Employers For Helping Federal Immigration Officials January 18, 2018| by Brian Anderson
This is the most insane bonkers thing ever, even for California. The state attorney general says he plans to prosecute employers if they assist federal immigration officials in any way. The state won’t arrest illegal aliens, even for breaking state laws, but they are going to bring the hammer down on business owners for aiding in the enforcement of federal law. When California declared itself a sanctuary state, they really meant it.
This travesty is courtesy of The Sacramento Bee:
The state’s top cop issued a warning to California employers Thursday that businesses face legal repercussions, including fines up to $10,000, if they assist federal immigration authorities with a potential widespread immigration crackdown.
“It’s important, given these rumors that are out there, to let people know – more specifically today, employers – that if they voluntarily start giving up information about their employees or access to their employees in ways that contradict our new California laws, they subject themselves to actions by my office. We will prosecute those who violate the law,” said state Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
That’s not entirely true. He won’t prosecute illegal aliens for breaking the law. The law that Becerra is talking about enforcing is called The Immigrant Workers Protection Act and it went into effect January 1. Here’s some of the provisions:
Requires employers to ask immigration agents for a warrant before granting access to a worksite.
Prevents employers from voluntarily sharing confidential employee information without a subpoena.
Requires employers to notify their workers before a federal audit of employee records.
Gives the attorney general and labor commissioner exclusive authority to enforce new provisions of state labor laws.
Prohibits employers from re-verifying information on employment verification forms, unless compelled to by federal law.
This ill-conceived law forces California employers to violate federal law and, should it arise, to obstruct federal investigations. I’d actually like to see Becerra prosecute one of these cases because it will end up going all the way to the Supreme Court, where the Cali law will get annihilated. I also think that if the AG hauls an employer into court over this, there will be massive outrage, even from liberal Californians.
The reason why Becerra issued this warning is equally as dumb:
Becerra’s warning comes as fears spread of mass workplace raids following reports that immigration agents plan to target Northern California communities for deportations due in part to the state’s “sanctuary” law, which seeks to restrict local law enforcement agencies’ ability to cooperate with immigration authorities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s acting director Thomas Homan told a Fox News host earlier this month that “California better hold on tight… If the politicians in California don’t want to protect their communities, then ICE will,” prompting a query from Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris to brief them on how raids are prioritized.
Putting this all together: California is shielding illegal aliens so the federal government is going to ramp up its enforcement efforts and the state’s response is to go after lawful business owners. That may be the most liberal thing that is or ever was.
If you are keeping track, California’s law enforcement priorities are: 1) otherwise legal gun owners who don’t comply with the state’s unconstitutional gun laws and 2) business owners who won’t help shield illegal aliens. Killers, rapists, and robbers? Not so much.
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