California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced his intention to veto a bill that would restrict the state's prison system from collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Assembly Bill 15 proposes to prevent what it calls "double punishment" for immigrants and refugees by prohibiting state prisons and jails from transferring individuals eligible for release to ICE custody for deportation. The bill argues that such transfers inflict additional trauma on these communities.

Specifically, the bill aims to prevent the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from honoring ICE hold requests, sharing release dates, or assisting in the transfer of individuals eligible for release to ICE. However, Newsom's office has informed KCRA 3 that he will veto the bill should it reach his desk. The bill is currently under review by the Assembly's Public Safety Committee.

This isn't Newsom's first time opposing such legislation. Two years prior, he vetoed a similar bill, Assembly Bill 1306, arguing that it would hinder necessary information sharing and coordination between state correctional authorities and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for public safety assessments. Newsom maintained that existing laws already provided an appropriate balance between limiting interaction with ICE to foster community trust and enabling cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

According to KCRA 3, citing prison system data, over 10,500 California inmates have been transferred to ICE custody since Newsom assumed office in 2019. The bill's sponsor is Democratic Assemblymember Mike Gipson, representing Los Angeles.