June 20, 2017

The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (AAAJ-ALC), Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN) today applauded the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ passage of the “Non-Cooperation with Identity-Based Registries and Internment Activities” resolution.
This resolution will prevent County staff and resources from assisting in both identity-based registries and internment efforts.
The resolution, which passed unanimously, includes provisions that protect individuals from registries and concentration camps by preventing any County personnel from using County resources:
“…to create, implement, provide information for, enforce, or provide assistance or support in any manner for any government program that creates or compiles, or requires registration in, a list, database, or registry of individuals on the basis of actual or perceived religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity (including transgender status).”
“Santa Clara County showed today that they stand ready to oppose any discriminatory policies that profile our communities, which the new administration may push forth,” said Elica Vafaie, National Security & Civil Rights Attorney at AAAJ-ALC.
“We thank President Cortese and Supervisor Simitian for their leadership in bringing forth this resolution,” says Sameena Usman, CAIR-SFBA Government Relations Coordinator. “This resolution sends a strong message to the country that we will protect our residents’ civil rights and civil liberties, regardless of their faith, background, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”
“Robust implementation will help ensure that the spirit of the resolution is carried out,” stated Maricela Gutierrez, Executive Director of SIREN. ”We applaud the Board of Supervisors and County Counsel for their leadership in ensuring that Santa Clara County will not be complicit in the creation of any potential registry created by the federal government.”
The resolution is modeled after the “Non-Cooperation with Identity-Based Registry” ordinance of the City and County of San Francisco to uphold the rights and liberties of religious and ethnic minorities.