SAN DIEGO—California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Jan. 24 met with rights groups and activists in San Diego to discuss guidance for immigrant communities, as part of what’s been called the state’s “Trump-proofing” efforts.
The meeting was the fifth and final event in a series hosted by Bonta across the state starting last year in a campaign to inform communities about California law amid the Trump administration’s policies on illegal immigration.
“We’ve been preparing for this day for months—hearing concerns through these regional convenings and issuing guidance for immigrants, local law enforcement, prosecutors, school officials, and public institutions,” Bonta said.
Bonta said immigrants in California communities, including illegal immigrants, have the right to an attorney, emergency medical care, the right to apply for housing without sharing immigration status, and their children have the right to receive a free public education, among others.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has said that ICE will prioritize illegal immigrants who have a violent criminal history or who are considered threats to public safety, but he also warned that there will be additional arrests.
“Further, it is the policy of the United States to achieve the total and efficient enforcement of those laws, including through lawful incentives and detention capabilities,” the order stated.
More than a dozen community groups and some activists at the immigrant rights meeting said the new administration’s policies are sparking concern in local communities.
“We have seen fear on the ground in terms of law enforcement databases,” Patricia Mondragon, regional manager of policy at Alliance San Diego, said at the meeting.
The platform allows real-time data sharing of photos and warrants, as well as offering crime and sex offender mapping, crime analysis tools, and offender identification, according to the website.
“People are pretty fearful,” Mondragon told The Epoch Times. “What would prevent the federal government from subpoenaing them to get data for immigration purposes?”
Other concerns shared at the meeting included “misinformation” and fear of retaliation or other harm against communities with illegal immigrants.
Bonta said his office is now actively reviewing the new executive orders. “We'll prosecute wherever we see the law broken, wherever we see rights trampled,” Bonta said. “You have my word on that.”
Bonta told The Epoch Times that there is no plan yet for additional lawsuits, and his office is looking at how Trump uses the military for immigration enforcement, as well as the president’s actions regarding the LGBT community.
After the vote, Sheriff Kelly Martinez said she wouldn’t honor the new county policy.
“Current state law strikes the right balance between limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with immigration authorities, ensuring public safety, and building community trust,” said Martinez.
