Rep. Chu Applauds the Launch of California’s TRUST Act

On January 1, 2014, California’s Transparency and Responsibility in Using State Tools (TRUST) Act went into effect. The TRUST Act makes clear when local law enforcement may respond to immigration detainer requests by federal authorities. It prohibits detention of undocumented immigrants for deportation unless a serious offense was committed. This limits the reach of a controversial federal program called Secure Communities, which currently allows the Department of Homeland Security to screen and transfer detained individuals to federal custody if they are undocumented.

“I’m thrilled to see California leading the effort to fix our broken immigration system. The TRUST Act removes the threat of deportation from California residents who simply want to be our fellow citizens, and focuses solely on people with violent records. As a result, more resources will be dedicated to remove those who pose a real threat, trust will be restored in local law enforcement, and more families will remain united as we continue fighting for a long-term federal solution to fix our broken immigration system.”