Pledges to Break ICE’s Hold on California and Beyond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 30, 2012
PRESS CONTACT:
Angela Chan, Senior Staff Attorney
(415) 848-7719
angelac@asianlawcaucus.org
SAN FRANCISCO - The Asian Law Caucus expresses deep disappointment in Governor Brown’s veto of the TRUST Act (AB 1081). Angela Chan, senior staff attorney, issues the following statement:
“After passing the legislature with strong support, the TRUST Act was posed to make California the first state in the country to adopt a policy that disentangled local police from burdensome immigration enforcement. Rather than take bold leadership to protect Californians and save our limited local resources, Governor Brown has squandered an opportunity to restore trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.
Almost 80,000 California residents have been deported thus far as a result of the runaway train known as ICE’s Secure Communities Program (S-Comm). We hold Governor Brown responsible for each and every domestic violence victim, food vendor, and contributing member of California deported because of his failure to do the right thing. We know that thousands more will be deported because his veto. This injustice will spur us to ramp up our efforts to break ICE’s hold on our local law enforcement.
We would like to thank the over 100 civil rights and community-based organizations, courageous police chiefs and sheriffs, 22 members of the California Congressional delegation, and inspiring faith leaders who made it possible for the bill to get to the Governor Brown’s desk. And we pledge to continue to work with you to win reforms that keep immigrant families together.”
The TRUST Act was authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, and co-sponsored by the Asian Law Caucus, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, the California Immigrant Policy Center, and the ACLU of California who worked with a coalition of community organizations from around the state.
