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California bill protecting immigrants closer to approval

In this photo taken Sept. 7, 2017, a student walks past a tip sheet for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients who fear deportation that is taped to a window on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif. Colleges and universities nationwide are stepping up efforts to help the students who are often called "Dreamers," after the Trump administration announced plans last week to end that federal program protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Gecker)
In this photo taken Sept. 7, 2017, a student walks past a tip sheet for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients who fear deportation that is taped to a window on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif. Colleges and universities nationwide are stepping up efforts to help the students who are often called "Dreamers," after the Trump administration announced plans last week to end that federal program protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Gecker) In this photo taken Sept. 7, 2017, a student walks past a tip sheet for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients who fear deportation that is taped to a window on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif. Colleges and universities nationwide are stepping up efforts to help the students who are often called "Dreamers," after the Trump administration announced plans last week to end that federal program protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Gecker)

By Associated Press 3 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California’s “sanctuary state” bill that would limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities cleared a major hurdle Friday when it was approved by the state Assembly.

The Senate was scheduled to give final approval to the legislation before lawmakers wrap up the legislative year late Friday or early Saturday.

The measure, which cleared the Assembly in a 49-25 vote with support only from Democrats, would bolster immigrant protections that are already among the toughest in the nation.

Gov. Jerry Brown announced his support this week after the top Senate leader, the bill’s author, agreed to water it down and preserve authority for jail and prison officials to cooperate with immigration officers in many cases.

The legislation is the latest effort by Democratic lawmakers in California, home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants without legal authorization, to create barriers to President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to step up deportation efforts. They’ve also approved money for legal assistance and college scholarships for people living illegally in the U.S., and made it harder for businesses and government agencies to disclose people’s immigration status.