After two years of mobilizing our Black and Latino membership, and working collaboratively with immigrant rights groups and allies, we’re celebrating that the TRUST Act (SB1081) passed out of the California Senate July 5.

Introduced by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the bill pushes back against the “Secure” Communities massive deportation program — which is anything but secure for the thousands of families who have been separated from their parents, husbands, wives and children, stemming from no other reason than a jaywalking stop or a traffic violation.

The TRUST Act sends a clear message that California will not tolerate the severe anti-immigrant S-Comm deportation program which has been responsible for deporting 72,000 Californians, 7 out of 10 with either no conviction or for minor offenses.

“This is an important step forward. And these legislative fights are only a piece of the puzzle. At the end of the day, the only “secure” community is an organized one!” —Cinthya Muñoz, CJJC Immigrant Rights Organizer

At a time when “show me your papers” laws are spreading from Arizona to Alabama to Georgia, this victory also provides a much needed alternative. The Trust Act would block law enforcement from turning over someone to Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless they have been convicted of a serious felony.

CJJC Immigrant Rights Organizer Cinthya Muñoz says “this is an important step forward. And these legislative fights are only a piece of the puzzle. At the end of the day, the only “secure” community is an organized one!”

 Said Assemblymember Ammiano, “The bill [… ] limits unjust and onerous detentions for deportation in local jails of community members who do not pose a threat to public safety,” said Ammiano.

The bill heads back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote and then on to the Governor’s desk.

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El Acta TRUST envía un mensaje claro de que California no tolerará el severo programa de deportación anti-inmigrante S-Comm, el cual ha sido responsable por la deportación de 72.000 californianos, de los cuales 7 de cada 10 fueron deportados sin convicción o delito menor.

En una época en la que leyes al estilo “muéstreme sus documentos” se están propagando desde Arizona hasta Alabama y Georgia, esta victoria también provee una alternativa muy necesitada. El Acta Trust impediría que la policía entregue a alguien al personal de Inmigración y Aduanas a menos que hayan sido encontrados culpables de un delito mayor.

Cinthya Muñoz, Organizadora de Derechos de Inmigrantes en CJJC, dice: “Éste es un importante paso adelante. Y estas luchas legislativas son sólo una pieza del rompecabezas. ¡Al fin y al cabo, la única comunidad “segura” es una organizada!”

Dice Ammiano, miembro de la asamblea: “El proyecto de ley […] limita las detenciones injustas y onerosas para deportaciones en las cárceles locales de miembros de la comunidad que no presentan una amenaza a la seguridad pública.”

El proyecto de ley ahora está encaminado a la Asamblea para un voto de concurrencia, y luego al despacho del Gobernador.