Outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown said in an interview over the weekend that the state’s sanctuary laws did not play a role in the murder of Cpl. Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant.
“I think people now are looking to blame somebody because of the terrible things that happened,” Brown said in an interview with KXTV published Saturday. “But it had nothing to do with the law of California.” (RELATED: FB Post Honoring Slain Police Officer Labeled As ‘Against Our Community Standards)
MODESTO, CA – JANUARY 05: Officers with the Newman Police Department carry the flag-draped casket of slain officer Corporal Ronil Singh during a funeral service at CrossPoint Community Church on January 5, 2019 in Modesto, California. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
Officer Singh, an American citizen who immigrated from Fiji, pulled over a driver suspected of being under the influence the day after Christmas when he was shot and killed. (RELATED: Police Chief Randy Richardson Breaks Down In Tears Talking About Fallen Officer Ronil Singh)
Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 32, was apprehended Dec. 28 for allegedly murdering Officer Singh.
Arriaga had two prior DUI convictions.
“In this case, the individual had been arrested and actually convicted twice of driving under the influence and there was as warrant out for his arrest and no one picked him up, and he was arrested and brought in to jail and brought into jail before the sanctuary law was even enacted,” Brown added. “ICE, the immigration people, could have gone out and gotten him. The police or the sheriff could have told the immigration service.”
MODESTO, CA – JANUARY 05: Police officers salute as the flag-draped casket of slain Newman police officer Corporal Ronil Singh is being carried to an awaiting hearse during a funeral service at CrossPoint Community church on January 5, 2019 in Modesto, California. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson disagreed with Brown’s claim that the murder was not a result of the state’s sanctuary laws.(RELATED: California Sheriff Adam Christianson Rips US Immigration Law: ‘Illegal Immigration Doesn’t Serve Our Communities)
During an interview on Fox News last month, he said, “Illegal immigration doesn’t serve our communities, especially criminals who victimize and exploit our communities,” adding that, “law enforcement is here to protect people. But you can’t provide sanctuary for criminals. All that does is silence the voices of our victims and I certainly didn’t sign up to do that.”