Governor vetoes TRUST Act, loses opportunity to

demonstrate California’s leadership

Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed AB 1081, the Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools (TRUST) Act, a constitutionally sound bill that would have limited unfair, costly detentions of immigrants in local jails for deportation purposes- people who would otherwise be released.  
With today’s veto, the Governor has lost a critical  opportunity to demonstrate how states can advance sensible solutions to address an out of control detention and deportation program  that hurts thousands of immigrant families across the state and country.  The bill by Assembly Member Tom Ammiano would have saved local resources, protected public safety and helped rebuild confidence between immigrant communities and local police.

In reaction to the veto, Reshma Shamasunder, Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center issued the following statement:

“We must state in no uncertain terms that Governor Brown’s veto of the TRUST Act will cause deep and widespread disappointment among immigrants and their families across the state. We expected him to be a champion for immigrants, but by his failure to take leadership, he has doomed thousands of immigrants including domestic violence survivors, food vendors, and people who for minor offenses are separated from their loved ones and detained unjustly in local jails, solely to feed an out of control deportation program. Due to the Governor's action, thousands of unjust deportations will continue to take place, and they will be on the Governor's conscience as they bring more harm and suffering to immigrants and their families in California.With the Governor’s failure to take action, even people like the “tamale lady” in Sacramento who was held simply for selling food are still at risk of unfair detention and deportation.

We are also deeply concerned that  the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) has waged a campaign using false information against the TRUST Act, including in a letter  to the Federation For Immigration Reform (FAIR) which has been identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. If this action had any influence on the Governor's veto decision, the public has a right to know.

We can, and must do better. We are committed to continuing the fight for fairness and equality throughout California.”

We at CIPC would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who supported this effort, shared your stories, came to Sacramento to attend hearings and talk to legislators, and made calls. We have built a strong movement in defense of fairness and justice, and the work is not over.

The bill was sponsored by the California Immigrant Policy Center, the Asian Law Caucus, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and ACLU of California who worked with a coalition of community organizations from around the state.The campaign to pass AB 1081 attracted enormous support. The bill was endorsed by sheriffs, police chiefs, twenty-two California Congressional representatives, led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Cruz Reynoso, former Associate Justice of the California State Supreme Court; local elected officials including Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, and leaders of several key faith communities.

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