Fact Check: California is a sanctuary state for child slavery.

Published July 12, 2025

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VERDICT

False

# Fact Check: "California is a sanctuary state for child slavery." ## What We Know The claim that "California is a sanctuary state for child slavery"...

Fact Check: "California is a sanctuary state for child slavery."

What We Know

The claim that "California is a sanctuary state for child slavery" is misleading and lacks factual support. California has enacted several laws aimed at combating human trafficking and slavery, including the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. This act recognizes that slavery and human trafficking are crimes and mandates large retailers and manufacturers to disclose their efforts to eradicate these issues from their supply chains. The law aims to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and to improve the lives of victims of slavery and human trafficking.

Furthermore, California's legislative framework includes protections for undocumented workers, which are often misconstrued as enabling illegal activities. For instance, the California Senate Bill 54 aims to limit local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration authorities, but it does not condone or protect child slavery or trafficking. Instead, it focuses on protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation.

Analysis

The assertion that California is a "sanctuary state for child slavery" conflates the state's protective measures for immigrants with a lack of enforcement against human trafficking. While it is true that California has laws that limit the cooperation of local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities, these laws are designed to protect undocumented individuals from being exploited and to encourage them to report crimes without fear of deportation.

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act explicitly acknowledges the existence of slavery and human trafficking in California and seeks to combat these issues through transparency and accountability in supply chains. This law demonstrates a commitment to addressing the problem rather than enabling it.

Moreover, recent reports from law enforcement indicate ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation, such as the rescue of migrant children from potential exploitation during operations conducted by federal agencies (ICE and CBP Law Enforcement). These actions contradict the notion that California is a sanctuary for such crimes.

The sources used to support the claim of California being a sanctuary for child slavery are often biased or taken out of context. For example, articles that sensationalize California's immigration policies may misrepresent the intent and outcomes of these laws. The credibility of sources that promote such claims should be critically assessed, as they may have political motivations or lack comprehensive understanding of the legal framework in California.

Conclusion

The claim that "California is a sanctuary state for child slavery" is False. The state's laws and initiatives actively work against human trafficking and slavery, aiming to protect vulnerable populations and ensure accountability in supply chains. The mischaracterization of California's immigration policies as supportive of child slavery is misleading and does not reflect the reality of the state's legal and social frameworks.

Sources

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