SACRAMENTO, CA, Dec. 5, 2016 – California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) today announced the introduction of three bills that will reaffirm California’s longstanding commitment to American values of inclusion, diversity, and freedom from oppression.  The Fight For California legislative package is a direct response to the divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional rhetoric employed during the U.S. presidential campaign. The three bills will prohibit state agencies from providing federal entities information for purposes of compiling a Muslim database, end local contracting with for-profit immigration detention centers, and require a vote of the people to approve a border wall project along the state’s southern border.

“Californians voted overwhelmingly to uphold our values of inclusion and diversity,” said Senator Lara. “We’re not going to allow a wall that harms our environment and our economy.  We’re not going to allow personal data on individual Californians’ religious beliefs to be used to compile an unconstitutional database.  And we’re not going to allow local governments and private companies to profit by detaining immigrants in private facilities that fail to meet basic health and safety standards.  We’re going to fight for California and for our values of democracy, freedom, and basic human decency.”

  • Defend Against Unconstitutional Muslim Database: Prohibits any state agency or department from providing information to the federal government on an individual’s religious affiliation if it is to be used for the purposes of compiling a database of individuals based solely on religious affiliation.  The bill would not impact the sharing of information from law enforcement for purposes of national security.
  • End Local Contracting with For-Profit Immigration Detention Centers: Prohibits local governments from contracting with private, for-profit companies to detain immigrants for profit and will require detention facilities to meet Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) minimum health and safety standards.
  • Voter Approval for a Border Wall: Requires a vote of the people to approve a border wall project that would harm California’s environment, such as endangered species of wildlife and river watersheds, or California’s economy, through trade and tourism.

All three bills were introduced in the State Senate on Monday and are awaiting referral to a policy committee.