California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation aimed at expanding oversight of federal immigration enforcement in the state, including a first-in-the-nation ban on shock gloves and a first-in-the-nation 25% tax on private detention centers.
The bills address immigration detention, enforcement transparency, civil rights, state facilities, public records, family services and oversight of civil detention facilities in California. The legislation reflects California's work to use its authority to protect Californians and support oversight of federal immigration enforcement activities occurring within the state.
"Trump has put his political interests above the health, safety and livelihood of American families. California is taking action to strengthen transparency, accountability, and oversight around immigration enforcement in our state," Newsom said. "This is about stepping up where the federal government has failed our communities. We will continue protecting our people, upholding the rule of law, and making clear that if the federal government operates in California, we will hold them accountable."
The package builds on California's longstanding efforts to support immigrant communities and responds to an intensified federal immigration enforcement environment, including federal operations in Southern California and the federalization of California National Guard personnel in June.
Among the law-enforcement measures, the legislation bans shock gloves, restricts the use of flash-bang grenades and explosive breaching charges, including in immigration-enforcement activities, and prohibits ICE officers who have committed serious misconduct on the job from becoming peace officers or public employees in California.
On detention oversight, the new 25% tax on private detention facilities directs revenue toward immigration-related services and closes a loophole that previously allowed some facilities to claim tax-exempt status. The legislation also expands health, safety and oversight requirements for civil detention facilities, broadens public access to records about private detention facilities, and strengthens the Attorney General's role in immigration-related matters, including a requirement to develop and report on a proposed oversight plan for private civil detention facilities.
Additional measures restrict the use of state-owned facilities for immigration-enforcement staging, processing, detention or operations, and require rental vehicles used by law enforcement for detention, arrest or transportation to display a temporary decal identifying the agency, with limited exceptions.
The package also gives individuals the ability to sue federal government officials who have violated their federal constitutional rights, and protects people traveling to or from courthouses for lawful activities from civil arrest. It further protects eligibility for CalWORKs assistance when a child or household member is detained by federal immigration authorities in specified circumstances, and strengthens protections for immigrant victims and others seeking assistance under California law.
The legislation includes AB 1627, AB 1633, AB 1650, AB 1655, AB 1801, AB 1806, AB 1807, AB 1994, AB 2318, AB 2495, AB 2760, SB 420, SB 423, SB 747, SB 873, SB 937, SB 942, SB 957, SB 1004, SB 1367 and SB 1399.