Members of the Ripon City Council Tuesday agreed that illegal immigration is a federal matter.
They were unanimous in voting to authorize City Attorney Thomas Terpstra to join in the “amicus curiae briefs” — otherwise known as “friends of the court” to those not a party to the litigation — in backing the federal government’s legal challenge to the California Values Act also known as Senate Bill 54.
Ripon now joins a small but growing list of cities and counties throughout the state in supporting the federal government’s lawsuit against California’s Sanctuary State decision.
SB 54 has extended local protections for immigrants living in California without legal documentation.
Council also voted 5-0 to support the Reducing and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018, which is a petition circulating that could be on the November ballot.
The coalition made up of crime victims, law enforcement, and public safety leaders, to name a few, are looking to reclassify “non-violent” (for example, sex trafficking of a child along with rape of an unconscious person are currently listed here, said Mayor Michael Restuccia) to prevent the early release of inmates convicted of these crimes.
The group is also looking for reforms in the parole system, theft laws, and expanding DNA collection to those convicted of any serious crimes.
“By supporting this, we’re encouraging people to sign the petition,” Councilman Leo Zuber said.
Restuccia, meanwhile, requested that his colleagues express their intent to comply with federal immigration law, in particular, when it comes to public safety.
Council took an oath to support both federal and state government, he noted.
The California Values Act bans state and local police agencies — excluding the state Department of Correction and Rehabilitation — from enforcing holds on people in custody. It also blocks police from being deputized as immigration agents and prohibits local officers from inquiring into one’s immigration status.
Ripon Police Chief Ed Ormonde said his officers would have been “torn to protect and serve.”
“There won’t be a tie-up with our police working with other agencies in keeping our streets safe,” Councilman Jake Parks said.
Council made that clear by throwing their support behind federal law.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.