Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we are joining with the Interfaith Community for Human Integrity in urging Governor Gavin Newsom to champion the VISION Act (AB 937) and sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

We are deeply concerned that non-citizen immigrants who have worked hard and earned parole or release from CDCR or jails continue to be transferred into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in California and out-of-state to face deportation.  This practice of transferring people in state custody to ICE contradicts California’s values of honoring rehabilitation, transformation, and family unity.  Together, we have a powerful opportunity to change this injustice.

Though the people participating in this action come from multiple faith traditions, we share a set of common beliefs that we, as humans, are capable of error, but also of redemption, forgiveness and transformation.  We know that with honesty, hard work, recognizing root causes and proper support, people are capable of change.  It is unfair to transfer, deport and exile a person with a conviction for an offense committed decades or years ago, for which the person has served time and earned release.  We believe that past convictions do not and should not define who a person is forever. If they had their citizenship, they would have come home.

Transferring people to ICE to be caged for immigration enforcement purposes also is excessive and unnecessary as there are a variety of alternatives to ensure that people appear in immigration court.  Immigrants can safely proceed through their immigration cases without having to be detained and separated from their employment, families and communities are better able to access immigration counsel and prepare for any deportation proceedings that may be initiated against them.

Many of these individuals had green cards and are facing detention and  potential deportation due to receiving a state criminal conviction resulting in the loss of their immigration status under a punitive 1996 federal law.  With the recent criminal justice reforms in California that provide avenues for obtaining post-conviction relief, they may be able to vacate or reduce their sentence and thereby win their immigration case.

California has an ethical and moral obligation to exercise bold and responsive leadership and take action to protect the rights of immigrants and stop the unnecessary and voluntary practice of transferring immigrants to ICE, and shut-off the pipeline to immigration detention.  

We urge Governor Newson to support and sign the VISION Act (AB 937).

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign the Action Letters at the Action Table outside the church on Sunday morning.
   Link to the Letter on the Interfaith Community for Human Integrity website
2. A copy of their letter can be seen here.

++++++++

If you ever need to look up your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or your U.S. Senators check here: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

To find contact information for your California State Senator or California State Assemblymember check here: www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.