Immigration

LOS ANGELES - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today sent a letter to United States Senators opposing S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, legislation proposed by Senator David Vitter (R- Louisiana), which would potentially withhold federal funding from California law enforcement agencies who comply with the state Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tool Act (TRUST Act). 

In the letter, Attorney General Harris expresses concerns over this effort to undermine the delicate balance struck in California to protect public safety and strengthen the relationship of trust between law enforcement and communities. 

“I strongly believe that serious and violent criminals—whether undocumented or not—should be held accountable for their crimes.  But when local law enforcement officials are seen as de facto immigration agents, it erodes the trust between our peace officers and the communities we are sworn to serve,” Attorney General Harris stated in the letter.  “Criminal justice policy should not be conflated with national immigration policy.”

In June 2014, Attorney General Harris sent a bulletin to law enforcement agencies in California, outlining their responsibilities and potential liability for complying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal detainer requests for undocumented immigrants.

The letter makes clear that California local law enforcement agencies are always able to notify ICE about serious criminals or those who pose a threat to public safety or national security.  The TRUST Act allows local law enforcement to notify ICE about serious criminals, while requiring that local agencies analyze public safety risks posed by an individual, including a review of the arrest offense and criminal history, before deciding whether to devote local resources to hold an undocumented immigrant on behalf of the federal government. 

The letter to the Senate is attached to the online version of this release at www.oag.ca.gov/news.

The law enforcement bulletin is available online here: http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/law_enforcement/14-01_le_info_bulletin.pdf.

En Español

LOS ANGELES — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced updated addresses for Los Angeles and Riverside immigration forums to be held later this month.

Last month, Attorney General Harris announced her office would host a series of statewide public forums in partnership with Univision Los Angeles, Service Employees International Union of California and iAmerica to inform Californians about the impact of President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions. The statewide forums will also serve to warn consumers about potential scams and other fraud targeted at immigrant communities. 
The public forums will be hosted in eight California counties including: Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Clara and Stanislaus. The statewide public forums will cover topics ranging from eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, including to how to avoid being a victim of fraud. 

“Because of DAPA and DACA, so many families will be able to get out from living in the shadows. We want to shine a light on a new path that frees them from the lure of predators and con artists,” said Attorney General Harris. “These forums will inform immigrants about their rights and responsibilities under the new programs, helping them on their way to realizing the American Dream.”

“Our community trusts us to provide them with the pertinent information on this very important topic that affects so many,” said Luis Patiño, senior vice president and general manager, Univision Los Angeles. “As a media company, it is our role to not only entertain our viewers, but we have a social responsibility to inform and empower them with the resources and tools that will help them understand complex topics such as this one and these town halls do just that.” 

“SEIU members in California are proud to partner with Attorney General Kamala D. Harris to protect California families from exploitation, to promote commonsense immigration reform, and to explain how President Obama's actions will work once they take effect. These policies will make America and our economy stronger. More students and their parents will be able to fully participate in society," said SEIU California and SEIU United Long-Term Care President Laphonza Butler.

“Hard-working immigrants who are mothers, fathers and youth contribute to our economy and to our communities and yet every day these families are being ripped apart by a broken immigration system. SEIU appreciates Attorney General Kamala D. Harris' leadership in bringing justice to immigrant families who are ready to be fully included in the country they call home," said SEIU-USWW President David Huerta.

UPCOMING FORUM DATES 

Fresno:
Saturday, June 13 at 10:00 AM
Manchester Mall
1901 E. Shields Ave.
Fresno, CA

Los Angeles: 
Sunday, June 14 at 10:00 AM
Garfield High School Auditorium
5101 E. Sixth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90022

San Jose: 
Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 AM
Mayfair Community Center
2039 Kammerer Ave.
San Jose, CA 95116

Bakersfield: 
Saturday, June 27, 11:00 AM
Beale Memorial Library Auditorium
701 Truxtun Ave.
Bakersfield CA 93301 

San Diego: 
Saturday, June 27 at 10:00 AM
LIUNA Hall
4161 Home Ave.
San Diego, CA 92105 

Riverside:
Sunday, June 28, 3:00 PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help 
5250 Central Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504

FORUMS ALREADY HELD

Modesto :
Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 AM
Argus and Endeavor High School
2555 Lawrence St.
Ceres, CA 95307 

Salinas: 
Sunday, May 31 at 12:00 PM
Hartnell College (Auxiliary Gym)
411 Central Ave.
Salinas, CA 93901

Major changes to United States immigration policy, like those contained in President Barack Obama’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions announced in November 2014, often lead to con artists emerging to prey on vulnerable consumers seeking help with immigration services.

In November 2014, Attorney General Harris issued a consumer alert informing Californians of these scams and issuing tips to protect themselves. In December 2014, Attorney General Harris issued a consumer alert informing Californians about possible scams targeting immigrants attempting to obtain a driver’s license under Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60).

In March, Attorney General Harris joined 13 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the U.S. government’s emergency request that President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions be allowed to proceed. The brief called on the Court to stay the preliminary injunction entered in the Southern District of Texas blocking the new immigration program. This week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the U.S. Department of Justice’s request for an emergency stay.

Attorney General Harris also issued two information bulletins to law enforcement agencies outlining their responsibilities and potential liability for complying with complying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal detainer requests for undocumented immigrants. The updated bulletin issued in June 2014 informed the agencies of new requirements they face since enactment of the Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tool Act (TRUST Act) and new federal case law that created legal risk for local law enforcement agencies that voluntarily comply with federal detainer requests.

For additional information regarding these forums please contact SEIU's media contacts:

English Language
Michael Roth
Email: Mike@paschalroth.com  Phone:916-444-7170 

Spanish Language
Maria Elena Jauregui
Email: m.jauregui@ocmedia.cc Phone: 818-355-5291

LOS ANGELES –  California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released the following statement in response to today’s ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, denying the U.S. Department of Justice’s request for an emergency stay in Texas, et al. v. United States, et al., the lawsuit against President Obama’s immigration executive actions. Attorney General Harris and 14 other Attorneys General had echoed the federal government’s call for an emergency stay, allowing the executive actions to move forward, in a friend-of-the-court brief.

“President Obama proposed commonsense actions to help address our broken immigration system and provide a path out of the shadows for over one million hard-working undocumented Californians eligible for deferred action,” said Attorney General Harris. “I am disappointed that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied our request for a stay to allow these lawful actions to immediately move forward. California will continue to lead the way in defending the President’s actions so that we can enjoy a safer, more prosperous California.”

English/Inglés: http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

En Español:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_s...?

中文/Chino :  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_c...?

Tiếng Việt/Vietnamita:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_v...?

También puede visitar el sitio web http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams (Inglés) o http://www.uscis.gov/eviteestafas (En español) para aprender como reconocer y evitar las estafas de inmigración, y como encontrar servicios legales autorizados.

En Español

LOS ANGELES -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris urges you to be careful if a tax preparer offers to help you prepare and file your immigration forms or asks you to pay fines directly to them. Individuals and businesses that prepare tax returns may not be authorized to assist you with immigration services.

The only people authorized to give you legal advice on immigration are licensed attorneys and representatives accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Attorneys and accredited representatives are the only ones authorized to:

•           Explain which immigration options may be available to you;

•           Advise you about which forms to submit; and

•           Communicate with USCIS about your case.

Getting immigration help from unauthorized individuals and businesses can:

•           Delay the processing of a case;

•           Cost unnecessary fees; and

•           Possibly lead to deportation proceedings.

Consumers can report suspected immigration scams to the Office of the Attorney General.  To file a Complaint with our office, use one of the following complaint forms:

English: http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

En Español:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_s...?

中文 :  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_c...?

Tiếng Việt:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_v...?

You may also visit http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams (English) or http://www.uscis.gov/eviteestafas (Spanish) to learn how to recognize and avoid immigration scams and find authorized legal services.

LOS ANGELES– Today, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and the Attorneys General from 13 other states and the District of Columbia filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the U.S. government’s emergency request that President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions be allowed to move forward, calling on the Court to stay the preliminary injunction entered in the Southern District of Texas blocking the new immigration program.

The brief, signed by California, Washington, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia, lays out the overwhelming positive economic, public safety, and humanitarian benefits from President Obama’s immigration actions.

“President Obama has proposed common sense actions that will help fix our broken immigration system and enhance California’s economy and public safety. With over one million hard-working Californians eligible for deferred action, our State has a major stake in the successful implementation of the President’s immigration actions,” said Attorney General Harris. “I wholeheartedly join my colleagues in urging the Fifth Circuit to issue a stay so that California families can immediately begin to come out from under the shadows and enjoy the American Dream.”

President Obama’s immigration actions will allow approximately 5 million people, including 1.2 million Californians, to apply for protection from deportation and work authorization. Eligible individuals will be required to submit biometric data, pass criminal and national security background checks, pay taxes, and meet the specific requirements for the deferred action program, including having resided in the U.S. for at least five years. 

The brief calls on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the injunction issued by the Southern District of Texas court, arguing that allowing the immigration program to move forward is overwhelmingly in the public interest.  Further, the brief states that the United States is likely to prevail on the merits of its appeal and by issuing a nationwide injunction, states like California are denied the benefits of deferred action.  These benefits include allowing immigrants to come out of the shadows, work, and contribute to our economy while enhancing public safety by focusing law enforcement resources on true threats to security and building trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities.  

The brief specifically points out that when undocumented immigrants are able to work legally, “their wages increase, they seek work compatible with their skill level, and they enhance their skills to obtain higher wages, all of which benefits state economies by increasing income and growing the tax base.”  In addition, the brief outlines the substantial economic benefits to California specifically: “California’s tax revenues are estimated to grow by $904 million over the next five years, with an anticipated 1,214,000 people eligible for deferred immigration action.”

If the court does not stay the injunction across the nation, the brief argues for a narrow preliminary injunction that would only affect Texas, as it is the only state that has claimed it is directly harmed by the deferred action program.

A copy of the brief is attached to the electronic version of this release at oag.ca.gov/news.

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued the following statement on the Federal District Court’s decision to grant an injunction against the implementation of President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions.

“President Obama has proposed common-sense actions to help address our broken immigration system—using the same executive authority that every president has used in the last five decades. I am disappointed by the District Court’s ruling, which will delay justice and fairness for many immigrant families.  Bringing nearly five million individuals out of the shadows will promote public safety, benefit our economy and extend the American Dream.”