Law enforcement: immigration enforcement.

Senator Jones proposes modifications to California's law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, revising the California Values Act to establish new parameters for information sharing and local agency authority. The legislation mandates that law enforcement agencies perform specific exceptions to current immigration enforcement prohibitions, particularly regarding individuals convicted of serious or violent felonies.

The bill alters existing protocols by explicitly permitting law enforcement to share release date information with immigration authorities under defined circumstances. It introduces mandatory reporting requirements for agencies participating in joint task forces, including detailed documentation of arrests and immigration-related enforcement activities. The Attorney General must compile and publicly release these statistics annually.

A key provision prevents local agencies from enacting ordinances that would create additional immigration enforcement restrictions beyond those specified in state law. Any such ordinances enacted prior to January 1, 2026, would be void. The measure maintains that law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities must comply with federal and state laws while preserving California agencies' jurisdiction over criminal matters.

The Legislature declares these changes address statewide concerns rather than municipal affairs, making them applicable to all California cities, including charter cities. The bill includes provisions for state reimbursement to local agencies for costs associated with implementing these new requirements, subject to determination by the Commission on State Mandates.