Press Releases

TRUST Act Approved by CA Senate

Yesterday afternoon, the California State Senate approved AB 1081 – the TRUST Act – with a vote of 21-13. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) is the bill's author; State Senator Kevin de León (D - Los Angeles) served as floor manager for the vote and presented the bill to the Senate.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

VIDEO: California is not Arizona

Hector Villagra, ACLU/SC Executive Director: Today the Supreme Court struck down most of Arizona's SB 1070, the anti-immigrant draconian law that was passed in 2010. Three key provisions were struck down today and these were some of the most outrageous provisions in the law.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Response to President Obama’s immigration decision

Hector Villagra, ACLU/SC Executive Director: It is fitting that today the federal government should announce an order preventing DREAM Act-eligible undocumented immigrants from being deported. Thirty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a state law prohibiting undocumented children from receiving a free public education. The Court recognized the unfairness and irrationality of punishing innocent children who are here through no fault of their own by denying them an education.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Detain First, Investigate Later

Detain first, investigate later — that is Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mantra when it comes to its Secure Communities ("S-Comm") program, a program designed to immediately ensnare any immigrant in the deportation pipeline the moment they come into contact with the criminal justice system.