California Governor Vetoes “Anti-Arizona” Law

This release comes from our allies at the National Immigration Forum. Founded in 1982, the National Immigration Forum advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation. In service to this mission, the Forum promotes responsible federal immigration policies, addressing today’s economic and national security needs while honoring the ideals of our Founding Fathers, who created America as a land of opportunity.


California Governor Vetoes “Anti-Arizona” Law

Washington, D.C. — On Sunday, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the “Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools” Act, or TRUST Act (AB1081). This legislation limits local law enforcement implementation of the Secure Communities program by setting clear standards for local governments to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people for deportation. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Gov. Brown missed an opportunity to rein in Secure Communities, a program that has strayed far from its stated goal of identifying only the most dangerous criminals. As the state with the highest number of deportations under Secure Communities, California knows too well the damaging impact of this poorly-designed enforcement program.

“The TRUST Act would have helped California’s law enforcement prioritize their valuable resources to focus on the true threats to public safety. Moreover, by enacting this “anti-Arizona” law, the Golden State would have sent a clear message that states can do better than Arizona – that they can still keep Secure Communities within its bounds.

“All may not be lost for the TRUST Act. In his veto message, Gov. Brown promised to work with lawmakers to rework the legislation. We hope that California lawmakers and Gov. Brown can soon find a way forward for this important public safety and government efficiency measure.”

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