Governor Brown signed the “California Values Act” into law, limiting cooperation between local and state agencies and immigration agents

SAN DIEGO, CA — Today, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 54 the “California Values Act” into law. The landmark law, which takes effect in January, will protect immigrants across the state by limiting local law enforcement collaboration with immigration agents.

Pedro Rios, Director of the American Friends Service Committee’s U.S./Mexico Border Program, and a member of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, released the following statement:

“We applaud the Governor for signing the “California Values Act” into law. As a border community, where we have more immigration officials than local law enforcement, this bill is critical to protecting our community members. The “California Values Act” reaffirms our state’s commitment to valuing and protecting all of its residents, no matter where they come from, and sends a powerful message of inclusion across the nation.

We also recognize that California must do much more to embrace the humanity of all who call our state home, including Californians criminalized by racially biased systems of mass incarceration. We will keep fighting to raise the bar for due process and equal treatment statewide.”

About San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium
The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium is a project of Alliance San Diego. Since 2007, community, faith, labor, and legal organizations have come together as the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC). Through SDIRC, these organizations are pursuing four common goals: support comprehensive immigration reform; stop the spread of local policies and practices that target and violate the civil and human rights of immigrants; educate immigrants, and educate the public about the important contributions of immigrants. More at: www.immigrantsandiego.org.

###