BAKERSFIELD, CA - Governor Jerry Brown addressed several issues during his visit to Bakersfield Tuesday, including the sheriff's refusal to enforce a new state law.
The Trust Act changes the way law enforcement deals with undocumented immigrants.
It's a new law, signed by Governor Brown, that immigration advocates are celebrating. Sheriff Donny Youngblood told the governor, Kern law enforcement won't enforce it.
Brown said, "I would say he's obligated to follow the state law, but I would like to hear what he has to say."
"I told him how I felt and that I was the sheriff of Kern County and I have to do it the way that I thought I had to do it," said Youngblood.
Governor Brown and Sheriff Youngblood don't see eye to eye on the trust act.
The governor said, "I signed the Trust Act because I wanted to help undocumented people in this county and throughout California."
"When ICE says no we want that guy help, we're going to hold them," Youngblood said.
Under the Trust Act, illegal immigrants must be charged or convicted of a serious offense to be eligible for a 48-hour hold and possibly deported. the sheriff says the new state law violates federal statute.
Youngblood said, "ICE has cooperated with us by not putting us in that position, by saying we will drop our hold on this particular person that we have that you're talking to us about. So it's working really well and so far, we're staying within both laws."
A local immigration lawyer says the sheriff doesn't have the authority to ignore the Trust Act.
After speaking with the governor, Youngblood stands by his decision.
Governor Brown's office released a statement saying it's up to the courts to resolve disputes regarding interpretation of a law.
The Trust Act changes the way law enforcement deals with undocumented immigrants.
It's a new law, signed by Governor Brown, that immigration advocates are celebrating. Sheriff Donny Youngblood told the governor, Kern law enforcement won't enforce it.
Brown said, "I would say he's obligated to follow the state law, but I would like to hear what he has to say."
"I told him how I felt and that I was the sheriff of Kern County and I have to do it the way that I thought I had to do it," said Youngblood.
Governor Brown and Sheriff Youngblood don't see eye to eye on the trust act.
The governor said, "I signed the Trust Act because I wanted to help undocumented people in this county and throughout California."
"When ICE says no we want that guy help, we're going to hold them," Youngblood said.
Under the Trust Act, illegal immigrants must be charged or convicted of a serious offense to be eligible for a 48-hour hold and possibly deported. the sheriff says the new state law violates federal statute.
Youngblood said, "ICE has cooperated with us by not putting us in that position, by saying we will drop our hold on this particular person that we have that you're talking to us about. So it's working really well and so far, we're staying within both laws."
A local immigration lawyer says the sheriff doesn't have the authority to ignore the Trust Act.
After speaking with the governor, Youngblood stands by his decision.
Governor Brown's office released a statement saying it's up to the courts to resolve disputes regarding interpretation of a law.