The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic-Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the passage of the California Religious Freedom Act (SB 31) and the California Values Act (SB 54) by the state Senate.
CAIR-California is co-sponsoring SB 31, sometimes referred to as the “Anti-Muslim Registry Bill.” It prohibits a state or local agency from participating in a federal program to create a database based on a person’s religious beliefs, national origin, or ethnicity for law enforcement or immigration purposes. It also prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from collecting information on the religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations of an individual except under certain circumstances.
SB 54, the California Values Act, keeps local and state resources from being used in deportations that separate families. The Values Act would also ensure that public schools, hospitals, libraries, and courts remain safe and accessible to all community members.
In a statement, CAIR-CA said:
“We welcome the passage of these bills and the protections they offer from discriminatory policies and practices unfairly targeting the Muslim and other minority communities. With the passage of these bills, California now sets the national standard for the protection of immigrant and civil rights.”