Advocates: Police flouted ‘sanctuary’ law in traffic stop

CORONA, Calif. (AP) — Immigrant advocates say police in Southern California flouted a state law aimed at protecting immigrants when they called border agents on a driver who showed a Mexican license.

Attorney Eva Bitrán said Wednesday that Daniel Valenzuela was stopped by police in Corona in January for allegedly speeding and then was held while officers asked about his immigration record.

Bitrán says federal border agents were called and detained him. She says Valenzuela has since been allowed to return to Mexico but his wife and children are here.

She says a claim was filed with the city.

Corona police say the officer called Border Patrol and learned Valenzuela’s visa had expired. Police say the incident is under investigation and since then officers have been trained on the state’s ‘sanctuary’ law.