(SACRAMENTO, CA, 4/18/19) — The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today applauded a decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Senate Bill 54 – The California Values Act.
The three-judge panel rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to suspend the measure, often referred to as the “sanctuary state law.” SB 54 limits local and state law enforcement from acting as deportation agents.
READ: Appeals court upholds California sanctuary law challenged by Trump administration (SF Chronicle)
SB 54 was one of CAIR-CA’s legislative priorities in 2017, and the chapter spent that entire year advocating strongly for the bill.
In further victories for immigrants’ rights in California, the panel also upheld most of Assembly Bill 103 and maintained a lower court’s ruling on AB 450.
AB 103 requires the California attorney general to oversee county, local and private detention facilities in which immigrants are held. AB 450, the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, requires employers to notify workers of upcoming federal inspections of their records.
In a statement, CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California Executive Director Basim Elkarra said:
“We applaud the court’s decision to uphold the California Values Act. SB 54 protects some of our most vulnerable community members from federal abuses of power, limits racial profiling, and upholds our values of equality and justice. The legislation makes our schools, hospitals, courthouses and libraries safe spaces for everyone in our community.
“As an organization that works directly with at-risk immigrant community members, we’ve seen firsthand the fear caused by the Trump administration’s cruel immigration policies. We’re proud to see our state continue to defy Trump’s xenophobic practices and lead the way in creating humane policies that protect all California residents.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Sacramento Valley Communications Manager Kalin Kipling-Mojaddedi, 916-441-6269, kkipling@cair.com
