California Democrats are being criticized for the state's sanctuary policies, which some claim are leaving vulnerable migrant children without proper welfare checks. California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office warned that local police conducting welfare visits on unaccompanied minors using information from federal authorities could violate state law. This warning is part of a broader lawsuit from the City of El Cajon against California's sanctuary state policies. City officials, including Mayor Bill Wells and City Councilman Steve Goble, argue that these policies put law enforcement in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between checking on potentially vulnerable children flagged by federal authorities and adhering to state law.
In a meeting with Homeland Security officials, Goble learned that federal authorities had a list of unaccompanied migrant children, including 52 in El Cajon, and sought local police assistance for welfare checks. Goble requested guidance from Bonta's office, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of all children, regardless of their immigration status. Bonta's office responded that local law enforcement conducting checks based on federal information could violate the California Values Act (SB 54).
Goble clarified that the city was not asking police to act as immigration agents but to confirm the safety of the children. The dispute over welfare checks is part of a larger legal challenge filed by El Cajon against Bonta, seeking to block enforcement of sanctuary policies that they argue hinder public safety. The city is requesting a preliminary injunction to prevent Bonta from enforcing these laws while the case is ongoing.
Bonta's office acknowledged concerns for at-risk children but suggested that county social service agencies might play a role in welfare checks when no criminal activity is evident. However, Goble and Wells argued that this suggestion overlooks the county's previous decisions to restrict resources for federal immigration enforcement. They contend that the current legal framework forces officers to navigate conflicting laws, complicating their ability to respond to public safety concerns effectively. Immigrant rights advocates have raised concerns that ICE welfare checks can serve as immigration enforcement under the guise of child safety, but Wells and Goble maintain that local police can conduct checks without reporting any immigration violations discovered during those visits.