Law enforcement officials recently conducted a raid in a Denver apartment complex on February 5, 2025. This is part of the larger immigration enforcement activities happening across California, the state with the largest population of undocumented immigrants, estimated at approximately 1.8 million people. The attitudes towards these immigrants in California have shifted significantly over the last three decades, marked by a notable change.
In the early 1990s, hostility towards undocumented immigrants in California was at its peak, as evidenced by the passing of Proposition 187 in 1994 with a 3-2 margin. This proposition aimed to mandate police to verify the legal status of individuals they encountered and restrict public services, including education, to those who couldn’t prove citizenship or legal residency. The measure was a key element of Republican Governor Pete Wilson’s re-election campaign, focusing on the strain undocumented individuals placed on the state’s budget.
Interestingly, the support for stricter immigration laws was not limited to Republican voters. Many Democrats, who constituted a significant portion of voters then and now, also voted in favor of the measure. The Legislature, which was predominantly Democratic, even passed anti-immigrant laws such as prohibiting driver’s licenses for undocumented individuals. However, the tide began to turn as public opinion and the political landscape evolved.
A pivotal moment came a year after the passage of Prop. 187 when federal Judge Marianna Pfaelzer ruled that the measure violated the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate immigration. She emphasized that despite the state’s concerns and frustrations, the regulation of immigration was solely under federal jurisdiction. This ruling set a precedent that influenced subsequent decisions and actions regarding undocumented immigrants in California.
Following the ruling, the state, under the leadership of Democrat Gray Davis, abandoned an appeal of the decision and took steps to repeal other anti-immigrant laws, including the one related to driver’s licenses. The state began to adopt policies that treated undocumented immigrants as legal residents, like expanding health care benefits. This shift in approach laid the groundwork for future developments in the state’s immigration policies.
The election of Donald Trump as president in 2016 brought renewed focus on illegal immigration, prompting California to enact legislation aimed at protecting undocumented residents. Senate Bill 54, known as the California Values Act, was introduced shortly after Trump’s victory. This legislation restricted California police from cooperating with federal efforts to identify and deport undocumented immigrants, reflecting the state’s stance on immigration enforcement.
While SB 54 faced legal challenges, the current administration’s renewed emphasis on immigration enforcement has put sanctuary laws like California’s under scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated legal action against similar laws in Illinois, arguing that these laws impede federal immigration officers’ duties. If successful, this legal challenge could impact California’s sanctuary laws and their ability to protect undocumented immigrants.
In light of these developments, California officials are bracing for potential legal battles and the implications they could have on the state’s immigration policies. The legal principles that once shielded immigrants from measures like Prop. 187 in 1995 may face renewed scrutiny, highlighting the ongoing debates and complexities surrounding immigration enforcement in California.
