The litigation over California's "sanctuary state" law raises important federalism questions that go far beyond the specific issue of immigration policy. The outcome will have a significant impact on potential future state efforts to restrict cooperation with federal law enforcement policies, and federal efforts to compel such cooperation. The litigation involves a federal government challenge to three California laws: Senate Bill 54, which restricts state and local officials from sharing information about immigrants within the state, with federal agencies; Assembly Bill 103, which requires the state attorney general to inspect any facility in the state where immigrants are detained by federal agents while awaiting immigration court dates or deportation; and Assembly Bill 450, which bars private employers from cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and audits unless such cooperation is mandated by a court order or a specific federal law. Last summer, a federal district court ruled in favor of California on the first two issues, but supported the federal government on the third. In this teleforum, Ilya Shapiro and Ilya Somin will debate that and related cases and consider their broader implications for federalism.
Featuring:
Mr. Ilya Shapiro, Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute
Prof. Ilya Somin, Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

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