Community forum on Thursday to announce Contra Costa Sheriff’s new Detainer Policy on illegal immigrants

After months of negotiations, Sheriff Livingston set to announce new policy on limiting cooperation with Secure Communities Program

By the Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO)

As the TRUST Act moves through the California legislature, the office of Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston will be participating in a community forum on Thursday, May 23, 2013 to announce a new policy that will limit the County’s cooperation with the controversial “Secure Communities” program which critics charge has resulted in the unnecessary separation of hundreds of thousands of families over the past five years.  Contra Costa County has one of the highest rates of immigrant detention in California and has had the highest rate of non-criminal deportations in the Bay Area.

WHAT:  Public Forum to Announce New Detainer Policy in Contra Costa County

WHO:  Representatives of Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office; clergy; over 200 community leaders; law enforcement officials; public officials

WHEN:  Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7:00pm

WHERE: Community Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, 200 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg

BACKGROUND:  After more than twelve months of organizing and negotiations, Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston has agreed to implement a new policy that will limit the level of cooperation with the federal Secure Communities program.  The new policy is being lauded as one of the fairest in the state of California and signals growing support among law enforcement officials to re-examine their cooperation with the controversial federal immigration program which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deportations over the past five years.  The announcement comes at a critical moment as the California legislature is debating a similar proposal that would enact similar restrictions on local cooperation with the federal program.  California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed the TRUST Act last October and cited the need for more support from law enforcement as key to gaining his support this session.  

200 community members are expected to attend with some giving testimonials of family members who have lost loved ones to deportations.

The Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) is a federation of 20 religious congregations representing 38,000 families in Contra Costa County.  CCISCO is an active member of the PICO National Network.  PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 60 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org.


One Comment to “Community forum on Thursday to announce Contra Costa Sheriff’s new Detainer Policy on illegal immigrants”

  1. Arne Simonsen says:

    Has the Sheriff forgotten his Oath of Office to also uphold federal laws and the US Constitution?

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