Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a series of bills on Tuesday aimed at countering the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategies in California. These measures include prohibitions on electric shock gloves and a modified ban on face coverings by law enforcement officers after a previous version was blocked by a federal court.
The legislative package, consisting of over 20 bills, seeks to impede tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, such as using facial coverings and conducting arrests near immigration hearings. Additionally, some bills aim to enhance the state’s supervision of federal detention facilities within California.
“Trump has put his political interests above the health, safety, and livelihood of American families. California is taking action to strengthen transparency, accountability, and oversight around immigration enforcement in our state,” Newsom stated. “This is about stepping up where the federal government has failed our communities. We will continue protecting our people, upholding the rule of law, and making clear that if the federal government operates in California, we will hold them accountable.”
One key piece of legislation bans the use of electric shock gloves by law enforcement across the state. This was swiftly enacted following news that the Department of Homeland Security intended to allocate $20 million to equip agents with these gloves.
Another measure, known as the “No Kings Act,” facilitates residents’ ability to file lawsuits against federal agents for civil rights infringements like racial profiling and unlawful searches. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the author of the bill, explained that this law already covers state and local officials and closes a loophole that previously exempted federal personnel.
Wiener also introduced another bill prohibiting ICE and other law enforcement officials from wearing face coverings while on duty. This follows his earlier attempt, which a federal judge blocked, that applied solely to federal agents.
Numerous bills signed by Newsom focus on enhancing state control over immigration detention centers and delaying new facility development. For instance, AB 1801 mandates that municipalities wait a minimum of 180 days and conduct public hearings before sanctioning any plans to develop or repurpose facilities into detention centers.
Newsom also endorsed a 25% tax on companies managing immigration detention centers within the state. The private prison corporations GEO Group and CoreCivic predominantly run these facilities under federal contracts. According to a fiscal assessment, Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) AB 1633 would yield an estimated $177 million in revenue.
A separate law requires local authorities to disclose 911 calls made from detention centers. This was motivated by a CalMatters investigation revealing that alleged sexual assaults at Otay Mesa, a San Diego-based detention center, were being scrutinized by the operating firm CoreCivic instead of local law enforcement.
“Our communities deserve safety, and no person in detention should have to resort to throwing notes over the walls of a detention facility to have their needs met and their voice heard,” said Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus and author of the bill, after it was passed by lawmakers.
Democratic lawmakers and activists have expressed concern over the increasing number of in-custody deaths and poor conditions within ICE detention centers. During Trump’s second term, 57 in-custody deaths were reported compared to 26 in the prior four-year period.
Inspections of detention facilities last year by Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office exposed numerous substandard conditions such as overcrowding, delayed medical care, and low-quality food and water. At one location, detainees lacked clothing to combat the extreme cold within the center, according to Justice Department staff.
Newsom authorized legislation that indefinitely extends the attorney general’s obligation to oversee private detention centers, which was originally set to expire next year.