California lawmakers voted this week to audit the state's network of joint intelligence "fusion centers" — regional hubs where federal, state, and local agencies share data — after investigations revealed multiple instances of local law enforcement sharing information with immigration authorities in apparent violation of state law.

The Joint Committee on Legislative Audit voted 9-1 Tuesday, with four members not voting, to direct State Auditor Grant Parks to investigate three California fusion centers. The audit will examine violations of legal authority over the past decade, what private-sector entities work alongside the centers, and whether state and local officials are adequately overseeing compliance with California law.

The vote was partly triggered by the ongoing controversy surrounding the City of El Cajon, which California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued for allegedly sharing vehicle license plate data with federal immigration authorities — a violation of California's SB 54 law limiting cooperation with ICE. That lawsuit remains in active litigation.

The audit also follows CalMatters investigations finding that local agencies shared license plate reader data with ICE and Border Patrol, and incidents in which law enforcement agencies reportedly used fusion center access to circumvent local bans on facial recognition technology.

For East County residents, the stakes are tangible. El Cajon has been at the center of the statewide debate over local authority versus state mandates on immigration enforcement. City officials have argued their license plate data practices are lawful, while the attorney general maintains they cross the line. The fusion center audit could shed further light on how widespread such practices are across California.