Gov. Newsom Vetoed 3 Bills, Including Widely Supported Proposal Against ICE Transfers Of Non-Citizen Prisoners

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed three bills late Friday night. The bills dealt with transgender custody cases, driverless trucks, and ICE detention after a non-citizen is released from California prisons.

AB 957 — Family law: gender identity

The bill would have required courts to consider a parent's recognition of a child's gender identity in custody cases.

In a veto message, Newsom said he shares a "deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians" but that he urges "caution when the Executive and Legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate...legal standards for the Judicial branch to apply."

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He says that strategy could be used to "diminish civil rights of vulnerable communities."

AB 1306 — State government: immigration enforcement

The bill would stop some non-citizens who've served time in California prisons from being handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including those who received clemency from the governor or who are sick and dying.

The proposal, authored by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo of Los Angeles, has wide support from immigration reform advocates. That effort was a more narrow version of a bill that had failed to get to the governor's desk last year.

Newsom said "current law strikes the right balance on limiting interaction to support community trust and cooperation between law enforcement and local communities."

AB 316 — Vehicles: autonomous vehicles

This bill wanted to put humans behind the wheel of driverless trucks.

In striking down the bill, Newsom said the DMV and California Legislature already have safety measures in place for autonomous vehicles.

What's next

The bills return to the Legislature. Vetoes could be overturned by a two-thirds vote in both chambers, which is rare. Gov. Newsom has until Oct. 14 to sign or veto hundreds of other bills.