Brown signs TRUTH act, vetoes ‘Dignity Not Detention’

Governor Jerry Brown signed one piece of immigration legislation and vetoed another on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1289, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), would have barred private prison operators from contracting with law enforcement agencies to detain immigrants for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Immigrant detention facilities, which hold unauthorized immigrants and those seeking asylum, have been denounced by immigrant rights groups due to reports of substandard conditions and detainee abuse.

Brown, while expressing his concern over the quality of private detention centers, said his decision to veto Lara’s ‘Dignity Not Detention’ bill stems from the DHS’ announcement to form a committee to evaluate whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should continue to work with private prison corporations.

“I have been troubled by recent reports detailing unsatisfactory conditions and limited access to counsel in private immigration detention facilities,” Brown said in a statement. “[The Department of Homeland Security’s] actions indicate that a more permanent solution to this issue may be at hand. I urge the federal authorities to act swiftly.”

Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) Director Javier Hernandez expressed his disappointment. Nonetheless, he said he echos Gov. Brown’s statement of urging DHS to take action.

“Our message is to call on DHS to take the action to end these [private] contracts. ICIJ will continue to revolve their actions on Adelanto and continue to demand the closure of this facility.”

Assembly Bill 2792, authored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), will provide undocumented immigrants due process before facing interrogation by ICE.

The new law, which is officially referred to as the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act, will require for law enforcement agencies to provide immigration lawyers the same information on detained immigrants they share with ICE. In addition, a public forum must be held every year to disclose local law enforcement’s role with helping DHS.

Brown expressed his satisfaction with Bonta’s bill, explaining that the earlier version of the bill would have constrained routine law enforcement communications with the federal government.

“The author and proponents greatly modified these far reaching provisions, and the bill now reflects a measured approach to due process and transparency principles.”

Assembly Bill 2792 will be in effect beginning on January 1, 2017.