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Placer County board member's efforts to opt out of 'sanctuary law' rejected

"A vote against SB-54 would be a vote for my deportation."

The Placer County Board of Supervisors discussed the possibility of opting out of California’s Sanctuary State Law at a meeting Tuesday afternoon.

District Four Supervisor Kirk Uhler placed the item on the agenda, and asked other board members to join him in standing against SB-54.

In a letter to Board Chairman Jim Holmes, Uhler wrote:

“I am formally requesting that an item be placed on the July 10, 2018, agenda relative to SB-54, specifically, 'Should the Placer County Board of Supervisors: recognize the primacy of the federal government and the United States Constitution on matters regarding immigration and naturalization; advise all Placer County departments and agencies that they, too, will recognize the primacy of the federal government and the United States Constitution on matters regarding immigration and naturalization; file an amicus brief in support of the federal lawsuit against the Sanctuary State law?'"

More than 100 supporters and opponents of California’s Sanctuary law showed up to Tuesday’s meeting.

"A vote against SB-54 would be a vote for my deportation," said Tomas Evangelista, a Placer County resident and DACA recipient.

An opponent of the sanctuary law added, "please opt out of this illegal bill," as she urged the board the opt out of being a sanctuary county.

"I just don't think it's part of the framework of what we're supposed to be doing – fighting battles that the state and the federal government are going to fight," said District One Supervisor Jack Duran.

Uhler said his efforts to condemn California as a sanctuary state weren't based on undocumented immigrants, but to send a message to the state legislature.

"I'm sitting here as an elected official who took an oath of office recognizing that I believe this particular state law forces me in a position to violate that oath of office, and I want to react to that. This is no way, shape, or form am I saying or do I hope we have any kind of a conversation that creates value judgments on illegal immigrants," Uhler said.

After three hours of an emotionally charged discussion, the board decided not to take a vote.

"I was unsuccessful and that’s the way this process works, and I respect their decisions,” Uhler said.

Uhler explained he will not bring up the item in future meeting, "By procedure I can’t bring up an issue which I’m on the losing side of, so I don’t get a request reconsideration if I didn’t win."

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