Newsom Signs Bills to Rein In Trump Immigration Efforts
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a slate of 21 bills on Tuesday aimed at increasing oversight of federal immigration detention and reining in what he called the “Orwellian” tactics of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The enactment of the bills comes as immigration arrests have soared to new levels, with nearly 50,000 arrests nationwide in July. California had the third-highest number of those arrests, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has recently expanded detention capacity in the state as part of President Donald Trump’s campaign to achieve “mass deportation.”
The wide-ranging bills, authored by Democrats from across the state, included measures to ban law enforcement use of electroshock gloves, enable individuals to sue federal officials in state court over rights violations and require local agencies to release 911 call records originating from immigration detention facilities.
Several bills focused on expanding the state’s power to enforce health and safety standards in immigration detention, restrict construction of new detention facilities and tax private detention facilities.
In his signing statement, Newsom noted that the underlying authority for immigration enforcement lies with the federal government. But he insisted that facilities in California are subject to the state’s standards and oversight.
“Trump has put his political interests above the health, safety and livelihood of American families,” Newsom said. “California is taking action to strengthen transparency, accountability, and oversight around immigration enforcement in our state. This is about stepping up where the federal government has failed our communities.”
San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener celebrated the signing of his bill, dubbed the “No Kings Act,” to allow people to sue in state court over allegations that immigration agents have violated their civil rights. He said the bill was needed because of cases across the country where immigration agents have violently pulled people from their cars and homes, and have fatally shot both immigrants and U.S. citizens.
“ICE and Border Patrol have terrorized California communities with impunity. That ends today,” Wiener said. “When federal agents act lawlessly, they should be held accountable the same as any other lawbreaker.”
Several measures passed by the legislature were not among the 21 bills signed. They included a bill — vetoed by Newsom on Sunday night — that would have fortified a pipeline of new immigration lawyers to work in rural parts of California. Also not signed were bills to cap at 35% the markup private facilities can charge detainees for commissary items, and one to bar private detention contractors from receiving state grants.