(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nomination today of Rob Bonta as the state’s next Attorney General since Bonta has shown he understands that the path toward public safety and human decency is not paved by increased criminalization. If approved, Bonta would be the first Filipino-American to hold this office.
“Rob Bonta has served Californians well as an Assemblymember who has championed laws that aim to end the racial disparities that disproportionately affect Black, Brown, immigrant and other communities of color that shows he recognizes the humanity of all people,” said ILRC Supervising Attorney Grisel Ruiz. “He authored AB 32 that bans private prisons and detention centers in the state, effectively signaling the state’s intent to end mass incarceration.”
“He also authored the TRUTH Act which provides crucial protections for immigrants held in California jails, ensuring that immigrants are informed of their rights when confronted with ICE,” Ruiz added. “His compassion for all Californians is commendable and his actions have shown he will work to dismantle policies and laws that unfairly target communities of color. We applaud a community champion nomination such as Rob Bonta, who is committed to working alongside local groups to drive solutions informed by Black and Brown communities.”
The ILRC hopes the California state Assembly and Senate act swiftly to approve Bonta’s nomination.
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers 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 works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities.