Sacramento politicians take a stand regarding ICE

With the outburst of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity around America, California legislators have expressed their concern for how this could affect California. 

The people in California fear or support the ICE action in other states. Many Sacramento sources voiced their opposition to ICE.

“ICE detention centers are centers of suffering, they are not giving people medical care, they are not letting them talk to lawyers, and not giving them due process… These corporations are profiting from suffering,” said Stephanie Gerstle Esparza, legislative director for Assembly Member Liz Ortega, a Democrat. 

According to Gerstle Esparza, California is doing as much as it can to push against the federal action. New bills have and are becoming introduced as a way to restrict ICE in California.

“If you were an ICE agent during Trump’s second term, you cannot be a teacher or a police officer in the state of California,” said Gerstle Esparza, talking about a new bill under consideration.

“(Senator Timothy Grayson) attended a press conference a few days ago speaking about how this negatively impacts our communities. California, as a whole, has been doing a lot of proactive action to ensure that ICE and any other immigration officers are not in protected spaces, meaning churches, schools, or legal offices,” said Samantha Yturralde, legislative director for Grayson, another Democrat. 

Another source described the situation as 

“Extremely scary,” said Megan Lee, legislative director for Assembly Member Matt Haney. “It is very daunting to be a citizen of the United States. We’re living in a state of uncertainty,” said Lee. “[Haney] is working on a bill, AB1633, redirecting funds back to immigrant communities.”

Republican sources expressed more neutral viewpoints. 

“As a staffer, we are concerned about California industries and we do our best to make sure that California is a safe place to be in,” said Jourieal Quisin, staff member for Assembly Member Tri Ta, a Republican. 

“People don’t really make the separation between federal and state and local law enforcement,” said Assembly Member Tom Lackey, a Republican. “Law enforcement is seen as a monolith of behavior. And so when there’s objectionable circumstances, even if it’s just perceived, it’s still hurtful. It’s hurtful to the whole image of trying to have partnership in law enforcement. In order to have successful law enforcement, you have to have partnership.”