A controversial bill introduced in the California Legislature aims to permanently ban former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from working as police officers or teachers throughout the state.
Assembly Bill 1627, known as the “Misconduct Ends Law-Enforcement Trust Act” or “MELT ICE Act,” would disqualify anyone employed by ICE between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029 – the period of President Donald Trump’s second administration – from holding positions in California law enforcement or public education.
“California’s peace officers and teachers must be guardians of constitutional rights, not participants in their erosion,” said Assemblymember Anamarie Avila-Farias (D-Martinez), who introduced the legislation. She argues that participating in ICE operations during this period “demonstrates an immorality that California cannot afford to have in its ranks.”
The bill would require the Department of Justice and Department of Education to expand background checks to specifically flag former ICE employment. The disqualification would be automatic, regardless of an individual’s personal conduct or criminal record.
The ban extends beyond ICE to include former employees of the Alabama and Georgia Departments of Corrections who served between 2020 and 2026.
Legal experts question whether California can legally enforce a lifetime ban on a specific class of federal employees without violating federal labor protections or constitutional due process rights. It remains unclear how the bill would address individuals who held non-enforcement roles within ICE, such as IT specialists or administrative staff.
The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) has voiced opposition to the bill. “This bill is unnecessary, duplicative and it jeopardizes qualified immunity for California employees,” stated David Mastagni on behalf of PORAC.
Critics argue the measure represents “guilty by association” and could worsen existing staffing shortages in California’s police departments and schools. According to data from PORAC, law enforcement agencies throughout California have lost over 3,300 sworn officers since 2020, with an average of 10% of policing roles remaining unfilled.
The bill is part of a broader package of “anti-ICE” legislation currently moving through Sacramento, including measures to tax private detention centers and allow citizens to sue federal agents for civil rights violations.
AB 1627 is scheduled for its first committee hearing as early as February 26, 2026. If it clears the Assembly and Senate, it will head to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for final approval.
Recent Comments