California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer released a new immigration platform this week outlining proposals that would significantly expand the state’s role in confronting federal immigration enforcement, including measures aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Steyer’s plan calls for eliminating ICE operations within California and pursuing legal action against federal immigration officials accused of violating state laws. The proposal includes granting expanded authority to the state attorney general to investigate and potentially prosecute federal agents and their supervisors under state statutes.

The candidate also proposed the creation of a specialized unit within the attorney general’s office to gather evidence related to alleged misconduct by immigration officials. In addition, his platform outlines efforts to fund public education campaigns informing individuals of their legal rights when interacting with federal authorities.

Another component of the plan involves state-supported initiatives to assist individuals who have been deported, including efforts to facilitate their return. Steyer also indicated he would seek to apply state-level legal standards to immigration enforcement actions conducted within California.

In outlining his proposal, Steyer argued that federal immigration enforcement practices raise legal and civil rights concerns, including allegations of racial profiling. His plan frames state intervention as necessary to address what he describes as gaps in federal accountability.

The proposals, if pursued, would likely face significant legal challenges, as immigration enforcement is primarily governed by federal law under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Legal experts have long held that states have limited authority to directly countermand federal immigration policy.

The announcement places immigration at the center of the California governor’s race, highlighting ongoing tensions between state and federal authority. Steyer’s platform represents one of the more expansive state-level approaches proposed in recent years, as debates over immigration enforcement and jurisdiction continue nationwide.