Wells Fargo: Divest from prisons!

Photos by Melanie Cervantes

Community and labor groups here in the Bay Area and 13 major cities across the nation took to the streets on July 1 - the day new anti-immigrant law was set to be implemented in Georgia. This legislation accelerates the detention of immigrants. Protesters demand that major shareholders divest their holdings in the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and the GEO Group (Geo). These are private prison companies run immigrant detention centers and prisons for the U.S. government. Private Prisons and investors are set to reach record profits from HB87.  There's a short video about it at the end of the page.

Read more: Wells Fargo: Divest from prisons!

One more step towards protecting immigrant rights

 On May 24th CJJC members along with allies from Filipinos Advocates for Justice, Street Level Health Clinic, and our growing coalition in Alameda County were successful in getting the County Board of Supervisors to pass a resolution in support of the Trust Act.

The Trust Act would allow counties in California to opt out of participation in the dangerous federal program program called S-Comm. S-Comm mandates collaboration between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and requires police and sheriff's department to share the finger prints of anyone who is arrested locally with ICE, regardless of whether that person has been charged or convicted of a crime.

As a result of this program 101, 741 people who have not been found guilty of any crimes have been deported nationally, 38, 828 people deported in California and 625 people deported from Alameda County.

CJJC member Billy Trice Jr. provided powerful and moving testimony before the Board when he said, “Everybody thought slavery and later segregation were okay. Today we all know they weren’t and are still not okay. We need to treat our immigrants who are indigenous to this land, with dignity and respect, we need to stop S-comm.”. As a result of the strong organizing efforts the Board voted 4-1in support of the resolution.  

“Everybody thought slavery and later segregation were okay. Today we all know they weren’t and are still not okay." — Billy Trice Jr.

Passing local resolutions against S-Comm and in support of the Trust Act is part of the overall strategy to build state-wide support to see the state level legislation pass in the next couple of months. CJJC has already been part of local efforts that has passed similar resolutions in San Francisco and Oakland as well.

The next step in our campaign will be speak out at the Public Safety Committee of the State Assembly on Tuesday, June 14th and we need you to join us. Come speak out, help drive others and stand up for racial, civil and human rights.

For more information call Cinthya (510) 763-5877 extension 208 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

California groups call for moratorium on S-Comm

All looks but no substance. That’s the consensus by immigrant rights groups, including Causa Justa :: Just Cause, on the recent reforms to the Secure Communities federal deportation program announced by the Obama administration June 17.

The S-Comm reform announcement acknowledges grave problems in S-Comm’s design and implementation but falls short of the moratorium on the program expected by lawmakers...

Read more: California groups call for moratorium on S-Comm

The Trust Act passes another hurdle on a 11-0 vote

AB1081, the Trust Act, passed another hurdle when it sailed through the State Appropriations Committee May 18 by a vote of 11-0 with Democrats voting unanimously for the bill. It now advances to the Assembly Floor where the fight is expected to be fierce.

Causa Justa, along with Mujeres Unidas y Activas, the Graton Day Labor Center, the Day Labor Program, and other allies visited lawmakers at the State Capitol on Monday, May 16 to ask them to support the passage of the Trust Act, (AB1081).

Sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and co-sponsored by Gilbert Cedillo (D-LA), Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Senator Leland Yee (D-SF), the Trust Act would give communities the right to opt-out of the controversial Secure Communities enforcement program, which has been widely criticized across the country.

S-Comm is a federal program that enlists local law enforcement to take part in civil immigration enforcement through the sharing of fingerprints when someone is arrested. This allows ICE to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

“Enough is enough with S-Comm. The truth is that ICE misled the public and elected officials about the program.  Unfortunately, its real focus seems to be more about media spin than public safety. Seven in ten Californians deported under S-Comm had committed no crime or were picked up for minor offenses like traffic violations,” said Assemblymember Ammiano. “This bill is a practical solution that lets local governments decide for themselves and restores some balance to this dysfunctional and unjust program.”

California was one of the earliest states to sign up for the program in Spring 2009. The state has become the so-called model for the Secure Communities Program, a program riddled with loopholes and problems.

"Civil rights are human rights and the right to a day in court or due process is one that everyone  regardless of color or status has had in this country since 1964,” said Cinthya Muñoz Ramos, immigrant rights organizer for Causa Justa :: Just Cause.

San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey, a supporter of the Trust Act, said that San Francisco was told it could opt out of the program and then was told it couldn’t. ICE has given inconsistent answers regarding the right of unwilling jurisdictions to not take part in the program.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Califronia) has called for an investigation into S-Comm and alleges that Dept. of Homeland Security officials misled the public about whether the program was voluntary. Lofgren is the top Democrat in the House immigration subcommittee.

In February, Ammiano introduced AB1081, or, the Trust Act, which among other things, would allow local communities to decide whether or not opt-in to the program.

Hennessey told committee members at an earlier hearing before the State Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 26 that while S-Comm’s goal is to deport those convicted of serious crimes, it “sweeps up virtually anybody. Anyone in a traffic matter, anyone who steps forward as a victim of crime and their fingerprints are run... it’s been a very frustrating experience.”

He added, “It’s been detrimental to public safety in San Francisco in terms...

Read more: The Trust Act passes another hurdle on a 11-0 vote