Attorney General Bonta’s Sponsored Bills to Protect the Rights of California’s Immigrants Signed into Law

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom signing into law two separate Senate Bills (SB) meant to protect and codify the rights of immigrants living in California. The bills, SB 942 (Caballero) and SB 1399 (Durazo), sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Immigrant Defense Advocates, respectively serve to hold detention facilities accountable when they violate detainees’ rights and permanently establish mandatory inspections for detention facilities. 

“Since taking office, the Trump Administration has waged a campaign of terror against immigrant communities,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Here in California, we know our diversity is our strength. There is no room in California for President Trump’s hateful mass deportation and detention agenda. I am grateful to Senators Caballero and Durazo for their championship of these bills and to Governor Newsom for signing them into law. My office remains committed to creating a safer California for all, and we will continue to fight to provide immigrants with the rights, necessities, and respect that they deserve.” 

SB 942 — The Detainees’ Bill of Rights

Authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) and co-sponsored by Immigrant Defense Advocates, SB 942 formally codifies a Civil Detainees’ Bill of Rights. The bill protects the health, safety, and dignity of individuals in civil confinement by ensuring that facilities entrusted with care and custody of vulnerable populations, including facilities housing immigration detainees, are aware of detainees’ basic rights to things like healthcare, clean drinking water, and adequate food. SB 942 also ensures that facilities can be held accountable when they violate those rights. The bill strengthens oversight mechanisms and reinforces California’s interest in ensuring that facilities housing civil detainees operate in a manner consistent with state health and safety requirements. 

“Our immigration laws are broken, and it can take decades for immigrants to resolve their cases and have their day in court. Previously, the federal government allowed immigrants to live in their communities, with their families, with work permits. Not so today. They are at great physical and mental risk while in custody and it is our responsibility to ensure that all detainees are treated with humanity and respect,” said Senator Anna Caballero. "I authored SB 942 because everyone held in civil immigration detention deserves humane treatment and the protection of basic rights. Today, my bill was signed into law, establishing a Bill of Rights for people held in civil detention, with protections for medical care, religious practice, adequate food, sanitation, communication with loved ones and access to legal counsel. I thank the advocates and sponsors who showed up, organized and fought for this bill. Thank you to my legislative colleagues for their partnership and Governor Newsom for his signature. California will stand against hate, defend basic rights, and protect our own.”

SB 1399 — Detention Center Inspections

Authored by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) and co-sponsored by Immigrant Defense Advocates, SB 1399 ensures conditions at immigration detention facilities are documented by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and reported to the Legislature and the public. Since the beginning of the first Trump Administration, DOJ has exposed the inhumane and substandard conditions at immigration detention facilities across California through rigorous inspections and periodic reports. California’s existing detention facility review framework, established under AB 103, requires DOJ to report on conditions of confinement as well as the standard of care and how the conditions of confinement affect the due process rights of detained individuals through July 1, 2027. SB 1399 effectively removes the expiration date of AB 103 so that these critical reports and necessary reviews can remain in place past 2027. 

“Governor Newsom's signature on SB 1399 is a historical moment for California and makes it clear that the state will inspect detention facilities, document, and report it to the public for transparency,” said Senator María Elena Durazo. “Cal DOJ's five reports under AB 103 have shined a light into a very dark place. SB 1399 makes sure that light stays on. I'm grateful to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Immigrant Defense Advocates for their partnership, and to every advocate and community member who pushed to make this permanent.” 

BACKGROUND

Attorney General Bonta is committed to standing up for California’s immigrant communities and shining a light on the unacceptable conditions at immigration detention facilities across the state. Attorney General Bonta has filed multiple amicus briefs in support of challenges to the Trump Administration’s no-bond policy, which mandates the indefinite detention of vast numbers of other noncitizens, also without the opportunity for a bond hearing. 

Earlier this year, Attorney General Bonta released DOJ's fifth report on conditions at immigration detention facilities operating in California. During inspections conducted at the seven immigration detention facilities operating in California last year, DOJ found that conditions had largely worsened as the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign has led to overcrowded intake conditions and strained resources, especially around access to medical care and basic food, water, and hygienic needs.

In addition to reporting on DOJ’s findings around conditions at California’s immigration detention facilities, Attorney General Bonta has filed amicus briefs opposing the conditions of confinement at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, sent a letter to the DHS shining a light on dangerous conditions at the California City Detention Facility, and raised serious concerns with an ICE directive to stop investigating and reporting on the deaths of individuals who die within 30 days after being released from ICE custody.