“As Co-Chair of the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus, I am deeply saddened by the recent violence and unrest in Los Angeles. California is a proud state of immigrants, and also a state of laws that must be enforced. We fully support the right to peacefully protest, but it must be done in a way that maintains the safety of the public and law enforcement. We are grateful to our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for their work and commitment to keeping us protected and safe and upholding the rule of law.
“Too often, our communities are politicized by state and local leaders seeking to deflect from years of flawed immigration policies that have gotten us where we are today. We are not props—we are parents, workers, and small business owners who value both security and opportunity.
“This crisis could have been avoided with solutions like SB 554 (Jones), which called for greater transparency from local governments that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in cases involving dangerous criminals. The bill would have improved trust and coordination between law enforcement agencies, without involving law-abiding immigrants.
“I believe in compassionate, accountable governance – where enforcement is lawful and measured, and where communities are safe, respected, and protected under the law.”
For more information and background on the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus: http://cahispaniccaucus.org.