For Immediate Release: October 5, 2017
Contact: Jareyah Bradley, jareyah@balestramedia.com, 908.242.4822
Governor Brown Protects Residents with California Values Act, Preventing Needless Deportations and Conserving Vital Public Safety Resources
Bill Reduces Police Involvement in Deportations While Increasing Due Process Protections for Immigrants
Today, Governor Brown signed into law SB 54, also known as the California Values Act, which will further reduce the influence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and disentangle local law enforcement officers from the business of deportations in the state of California. This law will prohibit local resources from being used for immigration enforcement and provide safeguards to ensure that schools, libraries, health facilities, shelters and Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) facilities remain accessible to all Californians.
Law enforcement officers, with few exceptions, will be prohibited from asking individuals about their immigration status, arresting or detaining individuals for immigration purposes, participating in border patrol activities, or acting as immigration agents through participation in ICE’s 287(g) program. SB 54 also extends valuable due process protections to those our state prison system.
Grisel Ruiz, Staff Attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, issued the following statement:
“As immigrant communities continue to brace themselves for the rising deportations the Trump administration has promised, we welcome today’s clear message from California’s leaders that our law enforcement need not fuel an already ravenous deportation machine. SB 54 brings crucial due process protections for immigrants in state custody, ensuring that fewer individuals face punishment twice over simply because of where they were born. This law ensures the safety, well-being and civil liberties of all California’s residents, and will prevent communities and families from being needlessly torn apart.
“We applaud Governor Brown for joining the resistance against the Trump administration’s deportation agenda, and not letting the Trump administration’s hatred and demonization of immigrants interfere with the state of California’s commitment to providing all of our residents the right to an education, access to health care and the justice system. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center will continue our work to keep families together by ensuring that local law enforcement agencies are no longer able to partner with ICE, a rogue agency that operates without oversight, accountability or respect for fair treatment, in any manner.”
The ILRC helped draft language for SB 54 and was a member of the coalition which supported the passage of this bill, and will now shift resources to support implementation including writing guides, holding trainings, and engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that lawyers, organizers and community leaders have the tools and knowledge they need to protect people from unconstitutional actions and the threat of detention and deportation.
For interviews with Immigrant Legal Resource Center please contact Jareyah Bradley at jareyah@balestramedia.com or 908.242.4822.
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policymakers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. www.ilrc.org