Sanctuary Policies Are Failing California’s Women 

When a woman or child is in danger, law enforcement should never pause to ask: “Are we allowed to act?”

Yet in California, this is the reality officers increasingly face.

Sanctuary laws have blurred the lines around what officers are permitted to do, even in situations involving potential harm. In fact, California Attorney General Rob Bonta cautioned El Cajon officials that if officers conducted a wellness check on a hypothetical child based on information provided by federal authorities, they may be in violation of state law.

This makes clear that something fundamental is broken.

California prides itself on leading with compassion. But when it comes to public safety, especially for women and children, that compassion must be measured by outcomes, not intentions.

Women in America want to trust in their Nation’s goodness and strength. At minimum, they should be able to trust that their leaders will prioritize their safety. Currently, sanctuary policies are failing that test.

These policies were designed to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, with supporters arguing that lax immigration enforcement builds trust in communities. But in practice, they have created dangerous gaps that criminals exploit and leave women and children more vulnerable to harm.

This is a real-world safety issue.

During the open border crisis, law enforcement documented a rise in gang and cartel activity tied to weak borders and a lack of enforcement. These are organized networks responsible for violence, drug trafficking, and human exploitation. Federal data shows a direct correlation between an open border and gang activity, alongside a surge in fentanyl trafficking, contributing to hundreds of thousands of American deaths.

These networks do not stop at the border, and they do not operate in isolation. They move into communities, often targeting the most vulnerable. And for women, the risks are especially severe.

Human smuggling, for example, thrives in places like California, where trust in law enforcement is fractured and coordination is limited. Victims are often told by their abusers that the police won’t help them,  and when policies create hesitation or restrict cooperation, that claim becomes more believable. The result is a wider pool of potential victims and greater freedom for traffickers to operate.

This has been an unfortunate reality in California for a long time.

Nothing should force officers to choose between upholding the law and protecting the innocent. No policy should create hesitation when swift action could prevent harm. And no community should accept a framework that prioritizes political messaging over public safety.

California is one of the most diverse states in the country, built by generations of immigrants seeking opportunity and better lives. This conversation is not about abandoning that legacy – it is about ensuring our laws mirror both our values and our responsibility to protect our communities.

Our nation can be both welcoming and safe. These goals are not in conflict, but achieving them requires clarity, policies that empower law enforcement to act when necessary, and leadership willing to acknowledge when policies produce harmful consequences.

For women, safety is deeply personal – it’s the confidence to walk to their car at night without fear, the assurance that their children are protected in their communities, and trust that the system will stand with survivors of violence.

Sanctuary policies are undermining this trust in California.

When officers are constrained and criminals face fewer barriers, organized crime expands, and victims are left with fewer places to turn.

The women and children of California deserve better.

California should lead the nation in policies that protect women. That starts with allowing law enforcement to carry out their responsibilities, strengthening coordination across agencies, and prioritizing the safety of victims above all else.

If our policies leave women and children less safe, they demand reconsideration.

Because every woman deserves to feel safe in her community. And every law we pass should move us closer to that standard.

Stacey Schieffelin is the Chair of the American First Women’s Initiative, Chief External Affairs Officer, and Director of Talent & Culture at America First Policy Institute (AFPI).

June Cutter is the Executive Director of AFPI – California.